The safety of Canada’s road users is a priority for the Government of Canada, and that starts with the safe transportation of our school children.
School buses have an excellent safety record in Canada and are the safest way to transport children to and from school. Even with this record, there are opportunities for improvement. That is why the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced today proposed regulatory changes to further strengthen school bus safety.
The proposal recommends that:
- All new and imported school buses in Canada be equipped with extended stop arms and a new visibility system for the bus driver to better see around the bus; and
- Clear requirements be set for the voluntary installation of infraction cameras. These devices can help law enforcement catch unsafe driver behaviour around school buses.
Together, these measures can help deter vehicles from illegally passing a stopped school bus, while also helping improve the bus driver’s ability to see children outside the bus.
The proposal follows the 2020 Report of the Task Force on School Bus Safety, which recommends new measures to protect children outside the school bus, where they are at the highest risk.
