Rules for drivers

Drivers including cyclists must stop and yield the entire width of the roadway (wait for pedestrians to clear the road) at:

  • pedestrian crossovers
  • school crossings
  • locations where there is a crossing guard

Only when pedestrians and school crossing guards have crossed and are safely on the sidewalk can drivers and cyclists proceed.

Pedestrian crossovers

A pedestrian crossover is a crossing that has:

  • specific signs
  • pavement markings
  • lights

Some have:

  • illuminated overhead lights
  • warning signs
  • pedestrian push buttons

Here are examples of pedestrian crossovers in Ontario:

Type of crossover Diagram
Pedestrian crossover with flashing lights Diagram of a pedestrian crossover. The image shows a mid-block pedestrian crossover on a four-lane roadway. Two large white X marks appear on the roadway in the two lanes approaching the crossover. The crossover is marked by two sets of double white bars which run across the roadway. Two rectangular signs with a large black X and the word “pedestrians” in black on a white background are installed at the crossover on each side of the roadway – underneath, there are two signs with the message “stop for pedestrians”. Two rectangular amber signs with a black X marking are installed over the roadway, one for each direction of travel. There are two round amber lights near the inside edges of the rectangular amber signs. Pedestrians are crossing the road. Cars and a bicycle are stopped at the crossover. They must wait until pedestrians are on the sidewalk across the road before they proceed.
Pedestrian crossover with pavement markings and signs diagram of a pedestrian crossover. The image shows a mid-block pedestrian crossover on a two-lane roadway. A ladder crosswalk, consisting of many white parallel bars between two white outer lines, runs across the roadway. A yield to pedestrians line made of white triangles with the bottom points facing the direction of approaching traffic appears on the roadway in each direction of travel before the crossover. These lines look like shark teeth. A rectangular sign with a black symbol of a person crossing the road from right to left on a white background is installed at the crossover on the side of the roadway. There is a rectangular flashing light above the sign and a sign underneath which reads “stop for pedestrians”. The signs and light are also installed on the other side of the crossover, but the black symbols show a person crossing from right to left. Pedestrians are crossing the road. Cars and a bicycle are stopped at the shark teeth lines. They must wait until pedestrians are on the sidewalk across the road before they proceed.
Pedestrian crossover with pedestrian push buttons, pavement markings, signs and lights diagram of a pedestrian crossover. The image shows a mid-block pedestrian crossover on a two-lane roadway. A ladder crosswalk, consisting of many white parallel bars between two perpendicular white outer lines, runs across the roadway. A yield to pedestrians line made of white triangles with the bottom points facing the direction of approaching traffic appears on the roadway in each direction of travel before the crossover. These lines look like shark teeth. There are two rectangular signs with a black symbol of a person crossing from right to left on a white background installed at the crossover: one on a pole on the side of the roadway and another one above the roadway facing approaching traffic. There is a rectangular flashing light above the sign on the side of the roadway and underneath a sign which reads “stop for pedestrians”. The signs and light are also installed on the other side of the crossover, but the black symbols show a person crossing from right to left. Pedestrians are crossing the road. Cars and a bicycle are stopped at the shark teeth lines. They must wait until pedestrians are on the sidewalk across the road before they proceed.

School crossings

A school crossing is any pedestrian crossing where a:

  • school crossing guard is present
  • school crossing stop sign is displayed

diagram of an example of a school crossing. The image shows a mid-block pedestrian crosswalk on a two-lane roadway marked by two sets of double white bars which run across the roadway. Two rectangular signs with black symbols of two school children crossing on a fluorescent yellow green background are installed at the school crossing on each side of the roadway – underneath, there are two fluorescent yellow green signs with the message “school crossing” in black. A school crossing guard is showing a school crossing stop sign to cars and bicycles stopped at the crossing. Children are crossing the road. Cars and bicycles must wait until the school crossing guard and children crossing the road are on the sidewalk across the roadway before they proceed.

How crosswalks differ from crossovers

A crosswalk is different from a crossover. A crosswalk is usually found at an intersection with traffic signals, pedestrian signals or stop signs.

A crosswalk can be:

  • the portion of a road that connects sidewalks on opposite sides of the road into a continuous path, or
  • the portion of a road that is indicated for pedestrian crossing by signs, lines or other markings at any location, including an intersection

At crosswalks, drivers are only required to stop and yield the entire roadway when a school crossing guard is present.

Penalties

The penalties for drivers who endanger pedestrians are as follows:

Offence Fine Demerits Other penalties
Failing to yield at pedestrian crosswalks, school crossings and crossovers Up to $1000 4 demerit points None
Running a red light Up to $1000 3 demerit points None
Failure to stop for a school bus First offence: Up to $2000
Each following offence: Up to $4000		 6 demerit points May result in imprisonment for up to 6 months
Failure to remain at scene of collision Up to $2000 7 demerit points May result in imprisonment for up to 6 months and/or a 2-year driver’s licence suspension

Fines double in Community Safety Zones near schools and public areas, which are clearly marked with signs.

There are additional penalties for careless driving if pedestrians are put at risk.

Tips for drivers

As a driver, always be ready in case pedestrians make sudden or unexpected moves. Here are some tips:

  • pay special attention to pedestrians especially when turning
  • watch for children. Drive slowly and cautiously through school zones, residential areas or any other area where children could be walking or playing.
  • watch for Community Safety Zone signs that indicate areas of special concern to the public
  • be patient especially with seniors or pedestrians with disabilities who need more time to cross the road
  • drive carefully when you are near streetcars or bus stops where passengers get on and off, and be sure to yield and stop when required