September is here and back to school time means back to sharing the road with school vehicles. Knowing the laws for sharing the road can save you from big fines and potentially even bigger increases in your insurance premiums.

In recent years the traffic laws have been updated to help keep children and drivers safe. Currently, a driver who fails to stop for a school bus faces a fine of up to $2,000 and six demerit points for a first offence. Subsequent offences will mean increased fines, demerit points and possible jail time of up to six months.

The use of cameras on school buses is also becoming more common in Ontario, making it easier to identify offenders and deter drivers from disobeying the laws.

Other provinces in Canada are also re-evaluating and updating traffic laws to increase safety for students. For example, drivers in PEI who fail to stop for school buses now face a licence suspension. Ontario is following suit with proposals to change the laws in order to allow for steeper fines and stronger punishments.

Read More: Ontario School Bus Safety

Speed Limits Lowered in Kitchener-Waterloo

In a further effort to keep neighbourhoods and children safe, Kitchener council has reduced speed limits from 50 km/h to 40 km/h in neighbourhoods, while school zones are further reduced to 30km/h. Waterloo council has changed speed limits on select resident streets and in school zones to 30 km/h.

Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras in Waterloo Region

Another significant step towards improving road safety, Waterloo Region introduced Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras in a number of school zones. Much like automatic red light cameras that we’re used to, these units capture a picture of the offending car and licence plate, then send a ticket to the car’s owner.

Where are the ASE cameras? Automated Speed Enforcement in Waterloo Region

Here is an annual reminder to pay attention to the speed limit signs and do your part to help keep our neighbourhoods and school zones a safe place for everyone.

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