1.School buses
- Overhead amber lights mean the bus is coming to a stop to pick up or drop off passengers: slow down and prepare to stop whether you are behind or approaching the bus.
- On a road without a median (a raised barrier between lanes), vehicles in both directions must stop when the bus is stopped and flashing its overhead red lights or its stop arm is activated.
- On a road with a median, you must stop only if you are driving in the same direction as the school bus; vehicles coming from the opposite direction are not required to stop.
- If you are driving behind the bus, stop at least 20 metres away. If the school bus is facing you, stop at a safe distance to let children get on and off the bus and cross the road.
- Before continuing on your way you must wait for the bus to start moving, for the overhead red lights to stop flashing and for the stop arm to be no longer activated.
- You must obey the school bus law on any road, no matter how many lanes or what the speed limit — and not just within school hours.
- Driving past a stopped school bus with its overhead red lights flashing or its stop arm activated brings fines ranging from $400 to $2,000 and 6 demerit points for a first offence.
- Each following offence brings fines ranging from $1,000 to $4,000, 6 demerit points and possible jail time of up to 6 months.
Official source: School bus safety ↗ · Stopping ↗
2.Streetcars and emergency vehicles
- You must pass streetcars on the right unless you are driving on a one-way road.
- At streetcar stops, stay at least two metres behind the rear doors where passengers are getting off or on.
- That rule does not apply at stops where an area has been set aside for streetcar passengers — pass these safety islands and zones at a reasonable speed and be ready for sudden or unexpected pedestrian moves.
- When an emergency vehicle approaches from any direction with its flashing red or red and blue lights, or siren or bell sounding, you are required to bring your vehicle to an immediate stop, as near as is practical to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
- On a one-way road or divided highway having more than two lanes of traffic, move to the closest curb or edge of the roadway. Do not move onto or stop on the shoulder, as emergency vehicles may be travelling along it.
- If you are in an intersection preparing to turn when an emergency vehicle approaches, abandon the turn and clear the intersection by proceeding straight when safe to do so, then pull to the right and stop.
- It is illegal to follow within 150 metres of a fire vehicle responding to an alarm.
- When approaching an emergency vehicle stopped with its red, or red and blue, lights flashing — or a tow truck with its amber lights flashing — in your direction of travel, you must reduce your speed and proceed with caution.
- When the roadway has two or more lanes of traffic in your direction of travel, you are also required to move into a lane away from the emergency vehicle or tow truck, if safe to do so.
- A first offence brings fines ranging from $400 to $2,000, 3 demerit points if convicted and possible suspension of your driver’s licence for up to 2 years.
Official source: Changing positions ↗ · Dealing particular situations ↗ · Driving near emergency vehicles ↗
3.Pedestrians
- Drivers, including cyclists, must stop and yield the whole roadway at pedestrian crossovers, school crossings and other locations where there is a crossing guard.
- Only when pedestrians and school crossing guards have crossed and are safely on the sidewalk can drivers and cyclists proceed.
- You must not pass any vehicle within 30 metres of a pedestrian crossover.
- Do not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk — a stopped vehicle may be a clue that a pedestrian is crossing. Not all crosswalks are marked, but nearly all intersections have crosswalks.
- Failing to stop at a pedestrian crossover adds 4 demerit points to your record.
- Where a school-crossing guard displays a red and white stop sign, you must stop before reaching the crossing and remain stopped until everyone, including the guard, has cleared the entire roadway. Drivers who don’t follow the stopping requirements may receive a substantial fine and get three demerit points.
- Pedestrians who are blind or with a visual disability may use a white cane or guide dog. Seniors or pedestrians with disabilities need extra caution and courtesy from drivers, as they may be slow in crossing the road.
- When you turn left you must wait for pedestrians in or approaching your path to cross; when you turn right you must wait for pedestrians in or approaching your path. Entering a road from a private road or driveway, you must yield to pedestrians on the sidewalk.
Signs in this section
Official source: Sharing road other road users ↗ · Stopping ↗ · Driving through intersections ↗ · Keeping your drivers licence ↗
4.Cyclists
- When passing a cyclist, you must maintain a minimum distance of one metre, where practical, between your vehicle and the cyclist. Whenever possible, change lanes to pass.
- Failure to leave that distance may result in a fine and an additional two demerit points on the driver’s record.
- Cyclists travelling slower than other traffic are expected to ride about one metre from the curb or parked cars, but they can use any part of the lane if necessary for safety.
- Do not follow too closely behind cyclists. They do not have brake lights to warn you when they are slowing or stopping.
- When turning right, signal and check your mirrors and the blind spot to your right to make sure you do not cut off a cyclist.
- When turning left, you must stop and wait for oncoming bicycles to pass before turning.
- When parked on the side of the roadway, look behind you and check your mirrors and blind spots for a passing cyclist before opening a door.
- Bike lanes are reserved for cyclists and are typically marked by a solid white line. Sometimes you need to enter or cross one to turn right at a corner or driveway — enter it only after ensuring you can do so safely, and then make the turn.
- The share the road sign warns motorists to provide safe space on the road for cyclists and other vehicles, and to exercise additional caution on the upcoming section of road.
Signs in this section
Official source: Sharing road other road users ↗ · Signs ↗
5.Motorcycles and large trucks
- Motorcycles use a full lane; treat them like other vehicles when driving.
- Mopeds and bicycles, like motorcycles, are harder to see because of their size, and their riders may make sudden moves because of uneven road surfaces or poor weather conditions.
- Since many motorcycle turn signals do not automatically shut off, be careful when turning left in front of an oncoming motorcycle with its turn signal on — make sure the motorcyclist is actually turning.
- Motorcycles, bicycles and mopeds often pull to one side of their lane to avoid dangerous road conditions or to be seen. Do not take this as an invitation to pass in the same lane; pass by changing lanes.
- Large commercial vehicles have big blind spots on both sides. Avoid tailgating one: the driver cannot see you if you are directly behind, and if the vehicle stops suddenly you have no place to go.
- If you can’t see the driver’s face in the large vehicle’s side-view mirror, the driver cannot see you.
- Large commercial vehicles require a much longer distance to stop than smaller vehicles. When passing one, do not cut in front closely, and allow more room when passing.
- When making a right turn, a large vehicle may need to first swing wide to the left in order to avoid hitting the right curb. Stay well back until the truck has completely cleared the lane, or you may be squeezed between the trailer and the curb.
- Leave plenty of room if you are stopped behind a large vehicle: when the driver releases the brakes after being stopped, the vehicle may roll back.
Signs in this section
Official source: Sharing road other road users ↗ · Changing positions ↗
6.Railway crossings
- All railway crossings on public roads in Ontario are marked with large red and white “X” signs. You may also see yellow advance warning signs and large “X” pavement markings ahead of railway crossings.
- Slow down, listen and look both ways to make sure the way is clear before crossing the tracks. Never race a train to a crossing.
- If a train is coming, stop at least five metres from the nearest rail or gate. Do not cross the track until you are sure the train or trains have passed.
- If there are signal lights, wait until they stop flashing and, if the crossing has a gate or barrier, wait until it rises before you cross the tracks.
- Never drive around, under or through a railway gate or barrier while it is down, being lowered or being raised. Driving through, around or under a railway crossing barrier adds 3 demerit points.
- Avoid stopping in the middle of railway tracks; in heavy traffic, make sure you have enough room to cross the tracks completely before you begin. If you get trapped on a crossing, immediately get everyone out and away from the vehicle, then contact authorities.
- School buses must stop at railway crossings whether or not they are protected by gates or signal lights, and the upper alternating red lights are not used for these stops. Most other buses and public vehicles must stop only at crossings that are not protected by gates, signal lights or a stop sign.
- Do not park within 15 metres of the nearest rail of a level railway crossing.
Signs in this section
Official source: Stopping ↗ · Parking along roadways ↗ · Keeping your drivers licence ↗
7.Slow-moving vehicles
- The “slow-moving vehicle” sign is an orange triangle with a red border. It alerts other drivers that the vehicle ahead will be travelling at 40 km/h or less.
- On a road, farm tractors, farm implements or machinery, and vehicles not capable of sustaining speeds over 40 km/h must display the slow-moving vehicle sign.
- If you see one of these signs, slow down and be cautious. Stay well back and do not pass until it is safe to do so.
- Farm machinery is often oversized, wide or long, making it difficult for the driver to see vehicles coming up from behind, and farmers often turn directly into fields rather than roads or lanes.
- It is common for farmers to be on the roads after dark during peak planting and harvesting seasons.
- Horse-drawn vehicles must also display an orange and red slow-moving sign. When passing one, give as much distance between you and them as possible — passing too closely could scare or startle the horse.
- Unnecessary slow driving is itself an offence and adds 2 demerit points to your record.
Signs in this section
Official source: Signs ↗ · Sharing road other road users ↗ · Understanding demerit points ↗