Highway Traffic Amendment
Act (school buses), 1997
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Bill makes two changes to the Highway Traffic Act.
First, the driver of a school bus is required to stop at a railway crossing that is protected by gates or railway crossing signal lights even when the gates or lights are not giving warning of the approach of a railway train.
Secondly, school bus drivers who stop on a highway in a line behind a school bus driver who has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging passengers are required to actuate the overhead red signal-lights and the stop arm on their buses while stopped.
Bill 1371997
An Act to amend the Highway Traffic
Act with respect to school buses
Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:
1. (1) Section 163 of the Highway Traffic Act is amended by adding "other than a school bus within the meaning of section 175" after "vehicle" in the first line.
(2) Section 163 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:
School bus
(2) The driver of a school bus within the meaning of section 175, upon approaching a railway crossing that is protected by gates or railway crossing signal lights, shall,
(a) stop the vehicle not less than 5 metres from the nearest rail of the railway;
(b) look in both directions along the railway track;
(c) open a door of the vehicle and listen to see if any train is approaching;
(d) when it is safe to do so, cross the railway track in a gear that will not need to be changed while crossing the track; and
(e) not change gears while crossing the railway track.
2. (1) Section 175 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:
Other school bus drivers
(6.1) Every school bus driver who stops on a highway immediately behind another school bus driver who has stopped for a purpose set out in clause (6) (a) or to whom this subsection applies shall actuate the overhead red signal-lights and the stop arm on the bus while stopped.
(2) Subsection 175 (7) of the Act is amended by adding at the end "or (6.1)".
(3) Subsection 175 (8) of the Act is amended by adding at the end "or (6.1)".
(4) Subsection 175 (13) of the Act is amended by adding "or (6.1)" after "subsection (6)" in the fifth line.
Commencement
3. This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.
Short title
4. The short title of this Act is the Highway Traffic Amendment Act (school buses), 1997.