Driving Tests

School Bus Stopping Rules in Ontario: When to Stop and the Fines

informational·how to guide·Published August 16, 2026

When do I have to stop for a school bus in Ontario?

In Ontario, stop for a school bus with its red lights flashing or its stop arm out. With no median (a barrier between the two directions), drivers in both directions stop. Behind the bus, stay at least 20 metres back. With a median, only drivers going the same way as the bus stop. Go when the bus moves, the red lights stop and the stop arm folds away.

Where the school bus rules come from

The stopping rules and the fines follow the Ontario school bus safety page and the Official MTO Driver's Handbook sections Sharing the road with other road users, Stopping and Signs. The demerit points and the novice penalties follow the demerit points page, the handbook section Keeping your driver's licence and O. Reg. 340/94, all as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Ministry of Transportation (ontario.ca) before you drive.

What the school bus lights and stop arm mean

What the school bus lights and stop arm mean
Signal	What it means	What you do
Overhead amber lights flashing	The bus is coming to a stop to pick up or drop off passengers	Slow down and prepare to stop. On a road with a median, only drivers behind the bus prepare to stop.
Overhead red lights flashing	The bus has stopped to pick up or drop off passengers	Stop. The median rule in the next section decides for traffic from the opposite direction.
Stop arm out	A stop sign with flashing red lights on the driver's side of the bus. It swings out after the upper red lights start to flash.	Stop. The same median rule applies as for the red lights.

Do I stop for a school bus on the other side of the road, and how far back?

The road has no median and you drive toward the front of the stopped bus

Stop at a safe distance from the front of the bus. Drivers in both directions must stop.

The road has no median and you drive behind the stopped bus

Stop at least 20 metres back.

The road has a median and you drive the same way as the bus

Stop at least 20 metres back.

The road has a median and you drive the opposite way

You do not have to stop.

What counts as a median?

A median is a physical barrier that splits the two directions of traffic and that vehicles cannot cross. It can be a raised or lowered strip, or a strip of earth or paving. On a multi-lane highway with no centre median, a sign tells drivers from both directions that they must stop for a school bus with flashing signal lights. The free practice test has a question on stopping for a school bus on a road without a median.

School bus fines and demerit points in Ontario

School bus fines and demerit points in Ontario
Offence	Fine (CAD)	Demerit points and other penalties
First offence	CAD 400 to 2,000	6 demerit points
Each following offence	CAD 1,000 to 4,000	6 demerit points and possible jail time of up to 6 months

What a school bus conviction means for your licence

You hold a full licence (not G1 or G2)

The 6 points stay on your record for two years from the offence date. At 15 or more points, your licence is suspended for 30 days.

You hold a G1 or G2 licence

A school bus offence is worth 6 demerit points. An offence worth 4 or more points can bring an escalating suspension, and the points are recorded as zero, so they do not count toward your total. A first conviction brings a 30-day suspension. A second conviction within five years of the first brings 90 days. A third conviction within five years of the second means you lose the novice licence, then re-apply, take all tests and pay all fees again (O. Reg. 340/94, sections 9 and 10). Read how demerit points work for G1 and G2 drivers for the full list of offences.

Can a school bus camera give you a ticket in Ontario?

Yes, in some cases. If a camera records a vehicle that illegally passes a school bus, the registered owner may be charged and fined. The demerit points and the jail time do not apply to the owner.

Key takeaways

Stop for a school bus with its red lights flashing or its stop arm out. Behind the bus, stay at least 20 metres back.
No median: drivers in both directions stop. Median: only drivers going the same way as the bus stop.
Go only when the bus moves, the red lights stop flashing and the stop arm is no longer out.
A first offence can bring a fine of CAD 400 to 2,000 and 6 demerit points. Each following offence can bring CAD 1,000 to 4,000, 6 points and jail time of up to 6 months.
Next step: practise the school bus questions on the free Ontario G1 practice test.

School bus rules in Ontario: common questions

Do I have to stop for a school bus on a four-lane road or a highway?

Yes, when the bus is stopped with its red lights flashing or its stop arm out. The school bus law applies on any road, whatever the number of lanes or the speed limit. A median between the directions of traffic means that only drivers going the same way as the bus stop.

Do I have to stop for a school bus outside school hours?

Yes. Be ready to stop for a school bus at any time, not only within school hours. The rule depends on the bus having its red lights flashing or its stop arm out, not on the time of day.

Do I have to stop for a school bus with the amber lights on?

Amber lights mean the bus is coming to a stop, so slow down and get ready to stop. You must stop once the red lights flash or the stop arm comes out. The free practice test has a question on what to do at flashing amber lights.

How do I report a driver who passed a stopped school bus?

File a local Road Watch Report or call your local police department. A school bus driver or another witness can make the report.