Knowing how to stop safely and properly is an important driving skill. Good drivers see stops ahead, check their mirrors and begin braking early, stopping smoothly. Braking is easier when you sit properly. Use your right foot for both brake and gas pedals so you won’t step on both pedals at the same time or flash your brake lights unnecessarily. Press the brake pedal firmly and evenly.
In a vehicle with manual transmission, try shifting into a lower gear going down long, steep hills. This will help control your speed and you won’t have to brake as sharply. Downshift before starting downhill since it may not be possible afterwards. As a guide, you should be in the same gear going downhill as uphill.
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| Diagram 2-16 | Diagram 2-17 |
You must come to a complete stop at all stop signs and red traffic
lights. Stop at the stop line if it is marked on the pavement
If there is no stop line, stop at the crosswalk, marked or not.
If there is no crosswalk, stop at the edge of the sidewalk. If
there is no sidewalk, stop at the edge of the intersection
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Stopping at railway crossings
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All railway crossings on public roads in Ontario are marked with large red and white ‘X’ signs. Watch for these signs and be prepared to stop. You may also see signs warning of railway crossings ahead. On private roads, railway crossings may not be marked, so watch carefully.
As you come to a crossing, slow down, listen and look both ways to make sure the way is clear before crossing the tracks. If a train is coming, stop at least five metres from the nearest rail. Do not cross the track until you are sure all trains have passed.
Some railway crossings have flashing signal lights and some use gates or barriers to keep drivers from crossing the tracks when a train is coming. At a railway crossing where the signal lights are flashing, stop at least five metres from the nearest rail. Do not cross until the signals stop flashing. If the crossing has a gate or barrier, wait until it rises or opens before crossing. It is dangerous and illegal to drive around, under or through a railway gate or barrier while it is being opened or closed.
Buses and other public vehicles are required to stop at railway crossings that are not protected by gates or signal lights. School buses must stop at railway crossings whether or not they are protected by gates or signal lights. Watch for these buses and be prepared to stop behind them.
Be careful in heavy traffic not to drive onto a railway crossing if you may have to stop on the tracks. Always make sure there is enough space to drive across the tracks completely before you begin to cross.
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Stopping at school crossings
You must stop for school crossing guards guiding children across a road. These guards carry red and white stop signs. Drivers who don't stop can be fined..
Stopping for school buses
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All school buses in Ontario, whatever their size, are chrome yellow and display the words ‘School Bus’.
No matter what direction you are travelling in, you must stop whenever you approach a stopped school bus with its upper alternating red lights flashing, unless you are on a road with a median. In that case only vehicles coming from behind must stop. (A median is a raised, lowered or earth strip dividing a road where vehicles travel in both directions.) Coming from the opposite direction, stop at a safe distance for children to get off the bus and cross the road in front of you. If you are coming from behind the bus, stop at least 20 metres away. Do not go until the bus moves or the lights have stopped flashing.
You must obey the school bus law on any road, no matter how many lanes or what the speed limit. Be prepared to stop for a school bus at any time, not just within school hours.
As well as the upper alternating red flashing lights, school buses use a stop sign arm on the driver’s side of the bus. This arm, a standard stop sign with alternating flashing red lights at top and bottom, swings out after the upper alternating red lights begin to flash. Do not go until the arm folds away and all lights stop flashing.
| If you don’t stop for a school bus, you can be fined $400 to $2,000 and get six demerit points for a first offence. If you break the rule a second time within five years, the penalty is a fine of $1,000 to $4,000 and six demerit points. You could also go to jail for up to six months. |
Watch for school buses near railway crossings. All school buses must stop at all railway crossings. The upper alternating red lights are not used for these stops, so be alert.
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Stopping for pedestrian crossings
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Pedestrian crossings - also called "crossovers" - let pedestrians safely cross roads where there are no traffic lights. Always watch for pedestrians and people using wheelchairs near these crossings. At some crossings, pedestrians can push a button to make overhead yellow lights flash; at all crossings, pedestrians should point across the road to show they want to cross. Drivers, including cyclists, must stop and let all pedestrians cross. Once people have cleared your side of the road you can go with caution.
Do not pass any vehicle within 30 metres of a pedestrian crossing.
© 2003 Queen's Printer for Ontario
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