School zones: how to drive safely?

What road signs are found in school zones?

In school zones, several signs alert road users to the traffic rules specific to children’s safety:

	School zone or crosswalk advance warning sign
	Sign indicating the beginning of a school zone (often accompanied by a second sign specifying the hours during which reduced speed limits apply)
	School bus stop advance warning sign This sign warns of the possible presence of a stopped school bus loading or unloading students.

What speed limit applies near a school?

The speed limit in school zones is generally 30km/h, even though the Highway Safety Code sets it at 50km/h. Respecting these speed limits is essential for children’s safety. Speeding fines are doubled during the school year. Here are also a few realities to keep in mind in school zones:

• Presence of small children who are difficult to see
• Busy streets and pedestrian crossings
• Unpredictable pedestrian behaviour

Do you have to obey school crossing guards?

Yes, you must always obey school crossing guards, whether they are adults or student members of the CAA-Quebec School Safety Patrol. The Highway Safety Code (section 311) legally requires drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to follow their instructions. The fine is $300 to $600 (plus applicable fees) and 4 demerit points. To cooperate properly:

• Stop your vehicle as soon as a child is about to cross the street.
• Be patient: Children sometimes walk slowly and are easily distracted.
• Encourage their road safety learning—a smile always helps!

What are the road safety rules around a school bus?

In Quebec, you must stop your vehicle or bicycle more than 5 metres away from a school bus when:

• Its alternating red lights are flashing.
• Its mandatory stop sign is activated.

This rule applies whether you are behind the bus or travelling in the opposite direction on the other side of the road. The fine is $200 to $300 (plus applicable fees) and 9 demerit points. You may resume driving only when:

• The red signal lights are off.
• The stop sign is folded back in.

Caution: Stay alert, as a child may step out at any moment.

Exception: You are not required to stop if the bus is travelling on a roadway separated by a median, except at intersections where children might cross.

How to use school drop-off zones?

Make sure you know where the drop-off zones are and how close they are to the school’s entrances and exits:

• If the drop-off zone is available: Use it to drop off your child safely.
• If it is occupied: Wait for a spot to open up.

Avoid double parking or unauthorized stopping at all costs. These behaviours unnecessarily endanger children, can obstruct emergency vehicle access, and disrupt traffic flow.

Why avoid school parking lots?

Parking lots around schools are high-risk areas:

• Reduced visibility for drivers
• Tight manoeuvres that increase the risk of collisions
• Children on foot who are often unpredictable

Even if parking spaces are available in the visitor section, park a little further away and walk. It’s safer and helps improve traffic conditions.

Why walk your children to school?

Walking your children to school has several benefits:

• Reducing congestion near the school
• Pointing out road signs and safety rules
• Teaching children about road safety and high-risk zones

If your children walk on their own, accompany them once or twice first. This will allow you to:

• identify the riskiest crossings; and
• remind them of the importance of staying alert.

What car seat is required for children?

Children must be placed in a car seat appropriate for their weight and height until they:

• are 145cm tall; and
• are 9 years old and can use a seatbelt on their own.

Depending on their size and weight, your child may need to use a booster seat. The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec provides full details on choosing car seats for children. CAA-Quebec members can also call on our Mobility Advisory Services.

Test your knowledge with this True or False quiz

Put your knowledge to the test with this short school zone safety quiz:

1. Taking a school bus is 10 times safer than travelling by family car.

True. Thanks to its size and unique compartmentalization system, a school bus offers better protection for children, even without seatbelts.

2. It is always illegal to pass a school bus.

False. The driver faces a fine of $200 to $300, plus 9 demerit points.

3. Drivers can ignore a school bus’s yellow flashing lights.

False. Yellow lights are a mandatory warning that the bus is about to stop. Slow down immediately to avoid sudden braking.

4. It is always illegal to pass a school bus.

False. A driver may pass a school bus in a zone where passing is permitted and when the red flashing lights are off and the stop sign is retracted.