Road safety is imperative for children who ride the school bus, especially in Ontario’s busiest areas. Roughly 18,000 buses operate in Ontario daily, and cameras can help keep their occupants safe.
Learn the policies and practices surrounding school bus cameras in Ontario and how they can enhance student safety.
Why Do School Buses Have Cameras?
School buses in Ontario have cameras for the following purposes:
- Student safety: Interior school bus cameras help monitor student behaviour and identify safety hazards on board. They help ensure a safe environment free of bullying, vandalism, or other inappropriate behaviour by students or drivers. School bus cameras can also provide parents with peace of mind.
- Traffic enforcement: Cameras attached to a school bus’s stop-arm can capture footage of vehicles that illegally pass the bus while it’s stopped to load or unload students. Evidence captured on these cameras can be used to fine or charge drivers who violate road safety laws.
In 2023, the Municipality of North Perth invested up to $16,500 in camera installations, equipping ten buses from Elliot Bus Lines and Newry Coach Lines. They mounted each camera under the stop arm and continuously uploaded the footage to a secure online portal for Perth County OPP access.
When Can You Legally Pass a School Bus?
The only time it’s safe and acceptable to pass a school bus when its stop arm is out is if you are on the other side of the street driving in the opposite direction. You should always halt your vehicle when a school bus’s stop arm is out while you are in the same lane.
According to the Highway Traffic Act Section 175(11): “Every driver or street car operator, 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, shall stop before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing.”
Failing to stop for a school bus results in a fine of $2,000 for the first offence and $4,000 for the second offence.
Types of School Bus Cameras
School bus cameras are available in various options, each designed to perform specific tasks. Below are a few standard options for school bus cameras:
What Features Should a School Bus Camera Have?
For a school bus camera to improve operations and enhance safety, it should have the following features:
Specific Policies and Practices
Specific school bus camera policies and practices may vary depending on your location within Ontario. Factors that may influence these policies include the following:
You can gather more information about these policies and practices by contacting your school board, visiting your municipality’s official website, reading the news, or speaking to someone in your local government.
Does Car Insurance in Canada Cover School Bus Accidents?
Generally, car insurance doesn’t cover school bus accidents in Ontario. However, there are two exceptions in which you can get some coverage:
- You are the school bus driver and have personal insurance for limited damage.
- You are a passenger on the school bus and are injured in an accident.
Whatever the case, knowing what to do after a car accident is imperative to ensure the best outcome for your personal safety. From there, you can make a car accident claim.
Key Advice from MyChoice
- Generally, it’s best to slow down when driving in a school zone. However, if a school bus has its hazard lights on while the stop arm is out, you can drive past it cautiously.
- You can tell a school bus camera is recording by noticing the status LED, which typically blinks red.
- Know how to drive safely, especially at night. Be aware of blind spots when driving around a school bus.