September 8, 2026
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(HURON COUNTY, ON) - Tuesday, children and teens across the Huron County OPP detachment area returned to school. Some are walking, some are riding bikes, and many others are riding on school buses to travel back and forth to school.
The return of school buses and student pedestrians means the roads are busier. Give yourself extra time to get where you're going and help keep our students safe.
The Huron County OPP is asking all drivers to be extra careful and observant for children on, or near, roadways, particularly near school zones. Keep your speed down and watch for students who try to cross the road in an unexpected location.
Crossing Guard locations:
Did you know that it's against the law to ignore a school crossing guard? According to Section 176 of the Highway Traffic Act, your vehicle must be stopped until the crosswalk is clear.
Where a school crossing guard displays a school-crossing Stop sign as provided in Subsection 2, the driver of any vehicle or streetcar approaching the school crossing guard shall stop before reaching the crossing and shall remain stopped until everyone, including the school crossing guard, has cleared the roadway and it is safe to proceed.
Motorists who fail to stop for a school crossing guard Stop sign, face a fine of $365 and four demerit points, upon conviction.
School Buses:
The Huron County OPP is reminding drivers to watch for school buses stopped on the roadway with alternating red lights flashing. Under Section 175 of the Highway Traffic Act, drivers meeting a stopped school bus and drivers approaching a stopped school bus must stop.
When meeting on a highway, other than a highway with a median strip, a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal-lights flashing, drivers shall stop before reaching the bus and not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead lights have stopped flashing.
When approaching a school bus from the rear that has its overhead signal-lights flashing, drivers shall stop at least 20 meters before reaching the bus and not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead lights have stopped flashing.
Motorists who fail to stop for a stopped school bus, face stiff penalties, upon conviction. First offence, the maximum fine is $2,000 and six demerit points. For each subsequent offence, the maximum fine is $4,000, or imprisonment, or both, and six demerit points.
If the driver can't be identified, the registered owner of the vehicle observed in violation of the law, may be charged with failing to stop for a stopped school bus.
The Huron County OPP encourages all parents and caregivers to take some time to talk to their children about the importance of being safe when travelling to and from school.
For more information about school buses and school crossings, visit: www.ontario.ca/document/official-mto-drivers-handbook/stopping.
The Huron County OPP will have enhanced high-visibility patrols around school zones throughout the coming weeks to ensure drivers and students are following the rules of the road and are exercising the appropriate level of caution and care.
Our children's safety is everyone's responsibility. Everyone using the roads, needs to exercise vigilance, patience and understanding as our students' head back to school. We ask you to do your part to keep our children safe.
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