EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Explanatory Note was written as a reader’s aid to Bill 246 and does not form part of the law. 
Bill 246 has been enacted as Chapter 13 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2021.

The Highway Traffic Act is amended to require school buses manufactured on or after January 1, 2005 to be equipped with four overhead amber signal-lights and four overhead red signal-lights. Consequential amendments are made to subsections 175 (1), (3.1) and (4) with respect to the signs that must be displayed on school buses and to subsections 175 (6), (8) and (9) with respect to the operation of signal-lights on school buses. The amendments come into force on July 1, 2022.

Bill 246 2021

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act

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

1 (1)  The definition of “school bus” in subsection 175 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act is repealed and the following substituted:

“school bus” means a bus that,

  (a)  is painted chrome yellow,

  (b)  displays on the front and rear thereof the words “school bus”, and

  (c)  displays on the rear thereof the words “do not pass when signals flashing” or “do not pass when red lights flashing”. (“autobus scolaire”)

(2)  Subsection 175 (3.1) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Same

(3.1)  If all or part of a bus operated under the authority of a permit issued under subsection 7 (7) is painted chrome yellow, the bus shall display,

  (a)  on its front and rear the words “school bus”; and

  (b)  on its rear,

         (i)  the words “do not pass when signals flashing”, if the school bus was manufactured before January 1, 2005, or

        (ii)  the words “do not pass when red lights flashing” if the school bus was manufactured on or after January 1, 2005.

(3)  Subsection 175 (4) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

School bus signs

(4)  No motor vehicle on a highway, other than a school bus, shall,

  (a)  have the words “school bus”, “do not pass when signals flashing” or “do not pass when red lights flashing” displayed on the motor vehicle; or

  (b)  be equipped with a school bus stop arm.

(4)  Section 175 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Overhead signal-lights

(4.1)  Every school bus registered in Ontario that is manufactured on or after January 1, 2005 shall be equipped with four overhead red signal-lights and four overhead amber signal-lights mounted outside of the bus at or near the roof line in the following configuration:

   1.  One red signal-light and one amber signal-light on each side of the bus at the front.

   2.  One red signal-light and one amber signal-light on each side of the bus at the rear.

(5)  Subsection 175 (5) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsection (3), (3.1) or (4)” at the end and substituting “(3), (3.1), (4) or (4.1)”.

(6)  Subsection 175 (6) of the Act is amended by striking out “red” wherever it appears.

(7)  Subsection 175 (8) of the Act is amended by striking out “red”.

(8)  Subsection 175 (9) of the Act is amended by striking out “red” in the portion before clause (a).

(9)  Subsection 175 (15) of the Act is amended by adding the following clause:

(c.1) governing the use of equipment on or in vehicles referred to in clause (a), including requiring the use of any equipment and prescribing the standards and specifications of the equipment;

Commencement

2 This Act comes into force on July 1, 2022.

Short title

3 The short title of this Act is the Safer School Buses Act, 2021.

This reprint of the Bill is marked to indicate the changes that were made in Committee.

The changes are indicated by underlines for new text and a strikethrough for deleted text.

______________

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Highway Traffic Act is amended to require school buses manufactured on or after January 1, 2005 to be equipped with four overhead amber signal-lights and four overhead red signal-lights. The amendments require drivers of those school buses to actuate the overhead amber signal-lights when beginning to slow down for the purpose of stopping to receive or discharge children or adults with developmental disabilities and to actuate the red signal-lights and school bus stop arm as soon as the bus is stopped. Consequential amendments are also made. Consequential amendments are made to subsections 175 (1), (3.1) and (4) with respect to the signs that must be displayed on school buses and to subsections 175 (6), (8) and (9) with respect to the operation of signal-lights on school buses. The amendments come into force on July 1, 2022.

Bill 246 2021

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act

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

1 (0.1)  The definition of “school bus” in subsection 175 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act is repealed and the following substituted: 

“school bus” means a bus that,

  (a)  is painted chrome yellow,

  (b)  displays on the front and rear thereof the words “school bus”, and

  (c)  displays on the rear thereof the words “do not pass when signals flashing” or “do not pass when red lights flashing”. (“autobus scolaire”)

(0.2)  Subsection 175 (3.1) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Same

(3.1)  If all or part of a bus operated under the authority of a permit issued under subsection 7 (7) is painted chrome yellow, the bus shall display,

  (a)  on its front and rear the words “school bus”; and

  (b)  on its rear,

         (i)  the words “do not pass when signals flashing”, if the school bus was manufactured before January 1, 2005, or

        (ii)  the words “do not pass when red lights flashing” if the school bus was manufactured on or after January 1, 2005.

(0.3)  Subsection 175 (4) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

School bus signs

(4)  No motor vehicle on a highway, other than a school bus, shall,

  (a)  have the words “school bus”, “do not pass when signals flashing” or “do not pass when red lights flashing” displayed on the motor vehicle; or

  (b)  be equipped with a school bus stop arm.

(1)  Section 175 of the Highway Traffic Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Overhead signal-lights

(4.1)  Every school bus registered in Ontario that is manufactured on or after January 1, 2005 shall be equipped with four overhead red signal-lights and four overhead amber signal-lights mounted outside of the bus at or near the roof line in the following configuration:

   1.  One red signal-light and one amber signal-light on each side of the bus at the front.

   2.  One red signal-light and one amber signal-light on each side of the bus at the rear.

(2)  Subsection 175 (5) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsection (3), (3.1) or (4)” at the end and substituting “(3), (3.1), (4) or (4.1)”.

(3)  Subsection 175 (6) of the Act is amended by striking out the portion before clause (a) and substituting the following:

School bus driver, signals

(6)  Subject to subsection (9), every driver of a school bus that is not equipped with overhead amber signal-lights,

.     .     .     .     .

(3)  Subsection 175 (6) of the Act is amended by striking out “red” wherever it appears.

(4)  Section 175 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Same, buses equipped with overhead amber signal-lights

(6.1)  Subject to subsection (9), every driver of a school bus that is equipped with overhead amber signal-lights,

  (a)  who begins to slow down the school bus for the purpose of stopping on a highway to receive or discharge children or receive or discharge adults who have developmental disabilities, shall actuate the overhead amber signal-lights on the bus;

  (b)  as soon as the bus is stopped for a purpose set out in clause (a), shall actuate the overhead red signal lights and school bus stop arm; and

  (c)  while the bus is stopped for a purpose set out in clause (a) on a highway, shall continue to operate the overhead red signal-lights and stop arm until the passengers have been received or discharged and until all passengers having to cross the highway have completed the crossing.

(5)  Subsection 175 (7) of the Act is amended by adding “or (6.1)” at the end.

(6)  Subsection 175 (8) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

School buses, restriction on use of signals

(8)  No person shall actuate the overhead signal-lights or the stop arm on a school bus on a highway under any circumstances other than those set out in subsections (6) and (6.1).

(6)  Subsection 175 (8) of the Act is amended by striking out “red”.

(6.1)  Subsection 175 (9) of the Act is amended by striking out “red” in the portion before clause (a).

(7)  Subsection 175 (13) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsection (6) does” and substituting “subsections (6) and (6.1) do”.

(8)  Subsection 175 (15) of the Act is amended by adding the following clause:

(c.1) governing the use of equipment on or in vehicles referred to in clause (a), including requiring the use of any equipment and prescribing the standards and specifications of the equipment;

Commencement

2 This Act comes into force on September 1 July 1, 2022.

Short title

3 The short title of this Act is the Safer School Buses Act, 2021.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Highway Traffic Act is amended to require school buses manufactured on or after January 1, 2005 to be equipped with four overhead amber signal-lights and four overhead red signal-lights. The amendments require drivers of those school buses to actuate the overhead amber signal-lights when beginning to slow down for the purpose of stopping to receive or discharge children or adults with developmental disabilities and to actuate the red signal-lights and school bus stop arm as soon as the bus is stopped. Consequential amendments are also made.

Bill 246 2021

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act

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 is amended by adding the following subsection:

Overhead signal-lights

(4.1)  Every school bus registered in Ontario that is manufactured on or after January 1, 2005 shall be equipped with four overhead red signal-lights and four overhead amber signal-lights mounted outside of the bus at or near the roof line in the following configuration:

   1.  One red signal-light and one amber signal-light on each side of the bus at the front.

   2.  One red signal-light and one amber signal-light on each side of the bus at the rear.

(2)  Subsection 175 (5) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsection (3), (3.1) or (4)” at the end and substituting “(3), (3.1), (4) or (4.1)”.

(3)  Subsection 175 (6) of the Act is amended by striking out the portion before clause (a) and substituting the following:

School bus driver, signals

(6)  Subject to subsection (9), every driver of a school bus that is not equipped with overhead amber signal-lights,

.     .     .     .     .

(4)  Section 175 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Same, buses equipped with overhead amber signal-lights

(6.1)  Subject to subsection (9), every driver of a school bus that is equipped with overhead amber signal-lights,

  (a)  who begins to slow down the school bus for the purpose of stopping on a highway to receive or discharge children or receive or discharge adults who have developmental disabilities, shall actuate the overhead amber signal-lights on the bus;

  (b)  as soon as the bus is stopped for a purpose set out in clause (a), shall actuate the overhead red signal lights and school bus stop arm; and

  (c)  while the bus is stopped for a purpose set out in clause (a) on a highway, shall continue to operate the overhead red signal-lights and stop arm until the passengers have been received or discharged and until all passengers having to cross the highway have completed the crossing.

(5)  Subsection 175 (7) of the Act is amended by adding “or (6.1)” at the end.

(6)  Subsection 175 (8) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

School buses, restriction on use of signals

(8)  No person shall actuate the overhead signal-lights or the stop arm on a school bus on a highway under any circumstances other than those set out in subsections (6) and (6.1).

(7)  Subsection 175 (13) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsection (6) does” and substituting “subsections (6) and (6.1) do”.

(8)  Subsection 175 (15) of the Act is amended by adding the following clause:

(c.1) governing the use of equipment on or in vehicles referred to in clause (a), including requiring the use of any equipment and prescribing the standards and specifications of the equipment;

Commencement

2 This Act comes into force on September 1, 2022.

Short title

3 The short title of this Act is the Safer School Buses Act, 2021.