🚸 School Bus Safety: What Drivers in Québec Must Know

Every morning and afternoon in Québec, thousands of children step on and off school buses. For them, it’s a normal routine. For drivers, it’s a moment that demands full attention and responsibility.

Failing to stop when a school bus does can cost more than a fine — it can cost a child’s life.

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🎒 What to Do When You See a Stopped School Bus

When a school bus activates its flashing red lights and extends the stop sign arm, here’s what the law requires:

✅ Stop completely

• All vehicles — whether behind the bus or coming from the opposite direction — must stop.

• The only exception is if there’s a physical median dividing the road.

✅ Wait until it’s safe

• Stay stopped until the red lights stop flashing, the stop arm retracts, and the bus starts moving.

✅ Stay alert for children

• Kids don’t always look both ways. Be prepared if a child suddenly crosses the street or runs back to the bus.

👉 In short: Red lights mean stop — no excuses.

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🚨 What Happens If You Ignore the Rules?

Passing a stopped school bus is one of the most dangerous and costly mistakes a driver can make.

⚖️ Legal Penalties

• In Québec, fines for failing to stop can be steep.

• Violators can receive demerit points and risk a suspended license.

• Many buses now have cameras that capture and report violations automatically.

🚓 Criminal Charges
If your negligence injures a child, you could face charges such as vehicular assault — consequences that stay on your record for life.

💔 A Lifetime of Regret
No fine or penalty compares to living with the knowledge that your impatience harmed a child.

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🙋 Quick Guide: When Do You Stop?

Here’s a simple breakdown:

👉 When in doubt, just stop.

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💛 Why It Matters

Stopping for a school bus isn’t just about traffic tickets. It’s about:

• Protecting children — the most vulnerable road users

• Respecting parents’ trust that their kids can get to school safely

• Creating a culture of safe, responsible driving in Québec

So, the next time those red lights flash: slow down, stop, and wait.

It might delay you by a few minutes.
But it could save a life.

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🚘 Learn Safe Driving with École LADM

At Ligue Automobile de Montréal (École LADM), we don’t just prepare students to pass their exams — we prepare them to be safe, responsible drivers for life.

✅ Certified driving instructors with years of experience
✅ Practical lessons covering school zones, bus stops, and real-life road safety
✅ Simulator classes for safe practice before hitting the road
✅ Convenient location in Montréal

📞 Call us today at 514-844-7303
🌐 Visit us at ecoleladm.ca

👉 Train with professionals who care about your safety — and the safety of our community.