Bill 170 2002

An Act to amend
the Highway Traffic Act
to require that school buses
be equipped with flashing
orange caution lights

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1. (1) Section 175 of the Highway Traffic Act, as amended by the Statutes of Ontario, 1997, chapter 12, section 14, 2000, chapter 26, Schedule O, section 14 and 2001, chapter 13, section 18, is amended by adding the following subsections:

Flashing orange caution lights

(5.1) In addition to any other requirement under this Act, school buses shall be equipped with flashing orange caution lights.

Transition

(5.2) Subsection (5.1) applies to school buses put into operation for the first time on or after the day this section comes into force.

(2) Subsection 175 (6) of the Act, as amended by the Statutes of Ontario, 2000, chapter 26, Schedule O, section 14 and 2001, chapter 13, section 18, is amended by adding the following clause:

(0.a) shall, shortly before he or she is required to actuate the overhead red signal lights under clause (a), actuate the flashing orange caution lights on the bus and shall continue to operate them until the overhead red signal lights are required;

(3) Subsection 175 (8) of the Act is amended by adding "the flashing orange caution lights" after "actuate".

(4) Subsection 175 (9) of the Act is amended by adding "the flashing orange caution lights" after "actuate" in the portion before clause (a).

Commencement

2. This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

3. The short title of this Act is the Highway Traffic Amendment Act (School Buses), 2002.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Highway Traffic Act to require that school buses be equipped with flashing orange caution lights that warn drivers when the bus is preparing to stop. This requirement applies to new school buses that are put on the road for the first time on or after the day the Bill receives Royal Assent.