School Zone and School Bus Rules in Ontario

Last updated: October 6, 2026

Children are hard to see and hard to predict, so Ontario's rules near schools and school buses are strict and the penalties are high. This guide covers school zone speed limits, crossing guards, pedestrian crossovers and when you must stop for a school bus.

School zones

A five-sided, house-shaped sign with a fluorescent yellow-green background tells you you're entering a school zone. Slow down, drive with extra care and watch for children, who may run out between parked cars.

• Speed limit: obey the limit on the sign. School zone limits are often 40 km/h, and many apply only when the yellow lights are flashing, usually during school hours.
• No sign, no special limit: if there's no school zone sign, the normal limit applies. In cities, towns and villages that's 50 km/h unless another limit is posted.
• Community safety zones: some areas near schools and parks are signed as community safety zones. The community has flagged a special risk to pedestrians there, and traffic fines are higher.

Crossing guards and school crossings

When a school crossing guard holds up a stop sign, you must stop and wait. Don't drive on until the crossing guard and all the children have completely crossed the road and are safely on the sidewalk. Waiting until they're past your lane is not enough.

Pedestrian crossovers

Pedestrian crossovers are marked crossings, often near schools, with signs and sometimes overhead flashing lights. When someone is crossing, you must stop and wait until they've crossed the whole road. You may not pass another vehicle within 30 metres of a crossover.

School bus rules

A school bus that is about to stop flashes its amber lights. Slow down and get ready to stop. When it stops to load or unload children, it flashes its red lights and swings out a stop arm. Then:

• Behind the bus: stop at least 20 metres back. Don't go until the bus moves or the red lights stop flashing.
• Coming toward the bus on a road without a median: you must stop too, far enough back for children to get off and cross safely.
• On a road with a median (a raised or physical divider): only traffic behind the bus has to stop.

Passing a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing brings a heavy fine and six demerit points.

Common mistakes

• Missing the flashing lights on a school zone sign, and driving at the normal limit.
• Going as soon as a child passes your lane at a crossover or crossing guard.
• Passing a school bus from the opposite direction on a road without a median.
• Stopping too close behind a bus, where children may not see you.

You'll find all of these in the rules section of the G1 practice test. The school zone and school crossing signs are on our Ontario road signs page. For the full rules, read sharing the road in the Official MTO Driver's Handbook.