On December 18th, Transport Canada published updates to the Canadian school bus manufacturing standards. These updates will affect newly built school buses starting on November 1, 2027.
Here is what you need to know:
- These updated standards are permitted on new school buses immediately but will not become mandatory on new school buses until November 1, 2027. Updates include:
- A perimeter visibility video system will be mandatory.
- Infraction cameras (stop arm cameras) are optional but if installed, they must meet specific requirements.
- An infraction camera (stop arm camera) notification decal will be mandatory on the rear of all school buses, regardless of whether the school bus is equipped with the infraction camera system.
The previous version of this proposal included an extended stop arm in the updated manufacturing standards. This component was dropped from the final version and as such, extended stop arms will not be mandatory on school buses.
The announcement by Transport Canada can be viewed via the following link.
https://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2024/2024-12-18/html/sor-dors239-eng.html
The D250 committee is continuing to work with manufacturers, bus operators and other relevant industry safety experts to consider additional requirements and clarifications related to the new amended standard, intended for the next revision of the D250 standard, anticipated to be published in the spring of 2026.