Last Updated on: 14th July 2022, 10:26 am
The School Bus and Pedestrian Safety Day will be a virtual experience, once again, this year! Parents, guardians and students will still be able to prepare for their bus ride to school by visiting OSTA’s safety webpage for online safety videos and materials! There are also online resources for students who walk to school on OSTA’s pedestrian safety webpage.
To ensure your child understands how to take the bus safely, OSTA recommends that parents/guardians:
Ministry of Ed School Bus Safety
Kindergarten – School Bus Safety with Buzzy the Bee
Grade 1-3 – School Bus Safety with Buster the Bus
Grade 4-8 – School Bus Safety for Junior Students
When planning to walk to school or anywhere, it’s important for you and your child to be prepared. Begin teaching pedestrian safety at a young age and continue to refresh their knowledge as they get older. When walking to school, know the potential dangers by familiarizing yourself with the route to school. Pick a route that is direct and avoids crossing too many streets. Always cross at designated areas; it’s important to teach your child to cross the street safely. OSTA has created multiple resources and tools like walking route maps, walk&roll maps and Walk-a-Block maps to help your child walk to school safely. Walk your route a few times before school starts so you can time it.
For more pedestrian safety tips, check out our pedestrian safety tips and resource page.
Effective July 1, 2022, school buses will be equipped with updated overhead amber signal lights on the back and front. Flashing overhead amber lights means that the bus is slowing down and is coming to a stop to pick up or drop off students. Students must wait until the bus has come to a complete stop before approaching the doors.
For drivers, when you see a school bus slowing down with its overhead amber signal lights flashing slow down and be prepared to stop. Once you see a school bus stopped with its overhead RED lights flashing you must stop.
When you see a school bus with its overhead “Amber” lights flashing:
• Slow down
• Be prepared to stop
• Watch out for children
Remember: Red Lights Flashing….. NO PASSING
Safer School Buses Act, 2021: https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-246
Highway Traffic Act, Regulation 612: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/900612