School Bus Safety Regulations

School bus safety is the responsibility of the federal government, state governments and local school districts. School bus regulations cover bus equipment and inspection; in addition, regulations also may serve the purpose of educating drivers and providing protection for passengers. Discussion about the state of school bus safety is often heightened during the third week in October, which has been designated as National School Bus Safety Week.

Equipment

Besides the obvious regulations requiring flashing warning lights, stop-signal warning arms and bus color, there are many other rules concerning school bus safety. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration issues rules that govern everything from brakes to mirrors. Seats must provide head protection and be anchored in such a way to reduce the possibility of failure as a result of an accident. The type and placement of rear-view mirrors is regulated, as well as what kind of glass is used in the windows and how the windows are installed.

Inspection

Although school bus inspection requirements vary from state to state, most require periodic testing throughout the school year, with a major inspection of all buses taking place before the beginning of the school year. Many states require that a state highway patrol officer perform the annual inspections. The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) suggests that a neutral third party be responsible for inspections. NAPT also advocates a national minimum criteria for school bus inspection.

Drivers

School bus drivers must meet minimum age requirements, which in most states is 18 years old. All states require that a school bus driver pass a commercial driver's license test to obtain a CDL license and keep her certifications current. School bus drivers must perform daily safety inspections on their vehicles and must also perform end-of-route inspections to ensure that no students have been left on board. Prospective drivers must pass a background check and a physical examination. School bus drivers are required to participate in in-service safety classes.

Passengers

Although there are no current regulations regarding seat belts for school buses, the National Coalition for School Bus Safety and other groups are advocating for the passage of a national seat belt regulation for school buses. State and local school board policies oversee the regulations for school bus riders. The most common rules for passengers include that passengers remain seated, do nothing to distract the driver, keep arms and heads inside the bus, be quiet at railroad crossings, keep the aisles clear, never walk behind the vehicle and pay attention and respect the driver.

Motorists

The motorist must understand laws pertaining to school buses. All states require that it is illegal to not stop for a school bus that is stopped to load or unload passengers. Drivers must also understand that they should slow down and prepare to stop when yellow flashing lights are used; yellow lights warn that the bus is preparing to load or unload students. Motorists should always stop when the stop arm is extended and red lights are flashing.

References

• National Association for Pupil Transportation

Resources

• Federal Motor Vehicle School Bus Safety Standards