School Zone Safety
Walking to School
Students who walk to school need to pay attention to traffic, weather conditions and avoid distractions along the way.
Be Mindful of School Buses
Whether you’re driving toward or behind a school bus, watch to see if the bus slows down and flashes its overhead amber lights, and be prepared to stop. If you are driving behind the bus, stop at least 20 metres away. If the school bus is facing you, stop at a safe distance to let children get on and off the bus and cross the road. It is dangerous and illegal to fail to stop for a stopped school bus that has its overhead red lights flashing or its stop arm activated.
Look Out for Children
Children are unpredictable and can run out into traffic at any time. As you approach a school zone, be vigilant, and watch out for children who may dart out from stopped school buses or parked cars.
Obey School Crossing Guards
Many school zones have crossing guards at crosswalks. Drivers are required to obey a crossing guard’s instructions to stop. When a guard displays a stop sign, you MUST remain stopped until everyone, including the guard, is safely off the road.
Know Your Limits
The speed limit in school zones across Ontario is between 30 to 40km/h. There will be signs posted around the school zone to remind you.
School Zone
Slow down and drive cautiously while looking out for children crossing. Be sure to also look for posted speed limit signs nearby.
School Zone Speed Limit
The speed limit in this zone is lower during school hours. Observe the speed limit displayed when the yellow lights are flashing.
School Bus Stop Ahead
This sign warns you that you are coming to a hidden school bus stop. Slow down, drive with extra caution, watch for children and for a school bus with flashing red lights.
School Bus Entrance
Indicates an upcoming bus entrance on the right and vehicles should be prepared to yield to buses entering the roadway.
Halloween Safety
With many excited children out on the roads on Halloween night, it’s important to practice great care and caution to help keep everyone safe.
Back to School Safety Quiz
Take our back to school quiz to test your knowledge on sharing the road with pedestrians, cyclists and school buses.
Road Safety in the Classroom
Use the Ontario Road Safety Resource to equip your students with the life-saving knowledge that will make them safer pedestrians, passengers, riders, and drivers.