In order to establish a school zone under Section 128 of the Highway Traffic Act, one of the signing options identified in Regulation 615 must be used and there must be a reduction in speed from the speed limit that is in effect at other times of the day.
When a sign shown below is installed alone or without the other components identified in Regulation 615, the location is not an official school zone in Ontario. They are considered warning signs and the speed limit does not change during school times. This sign is added on the approach to schools to increase awareness to drivers that there could be increased pedestrian activity in the area because of the school and that they should slow down. It does not specify a different speed limit during school times. They are implemented as per guidance provided in the Ontario Traffic Manual Book 6 – Warning Signs (page 104) which can be downloaded from the MTO website here. Please note that the signs shown in Book 6 are blue but the new standard is the high visibility yellow-green colour.
