Every morning and evening in Quebec, nearly 575,000 children (60% of school children) take a seat on board one of more than 9,500 school buses that travel approximately 1 million kilometres a day! Many of these children are young Montréalers.

When the kids return to school after a long break, the police officers of the SPVM, in collaboration with various school authorities, help children learn the importance of being alert around school buses.  Various public awareness campaigns also take place throughout the year, to remind everyone of the importance to show caution when close to schools.

And what about the drivers who share the road with these school buses and their precious passengers?

In Montréal, 2008, no less than 500 tickets were handed out to drivers who failed to stop when school bus lights were flashing!

The greatest risk to children's safety is outside the bus.  From 2001 to 2006, Quebec had 50 children injured in collisions while crossing the street or exiting and entering the bus. Of the 50, 4 died.

Codes of conduct when approaching a school bus 

• You must stop your vehicle no less than five meters from a bus or a school minibus whose lights are flashing and whose stop sign is displayed.
• You cannot cross or pass a bus or a minibus whose stop signal is displayed, or whose lights are flashing.

Any driver ignoring these rules will be fined between $200 to $300, and 9 demerit points on their driving record.

It is yellow... prepare to stop!

School bus drivers announce in advance their intention to stop in order to slow traffic down in front and behind them, and to avoid abrupt braking or acceleration. This is aimed at protecting the lives of our children; therefore, prepare to stop when a bus activates its four yellow warning lights or its hazard lights!

To find out more :

Kid zone - I'm careful - Safe at school

Parents... Allies in Child Safety

Motorists... Exercise Caution!  

Awareness Campaigns 

School Bus Transportation - Youth Education

Transporting Preschoolers for Group Outings

School buses and restraint systems

School Bus Transportation, A Shared Responsibility

Alternate information

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