New York School Bus Laws
New York state has very strict school bus laws. This is good news for parents, students and school districts. New York law regulates the physical construction of school buses, the employees who drive the school buses and the actions of students who ride the school buses. In addition, it imposes stiff penalties on drivers who choose to ignore state traffic laws.
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Significance
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The New York School Bus Contractors Association contends that more than 1.3 million children in New York are transported by school buses. The state has more than 28,000 school transportation vehicles that serve families in more than 350 school districts. Operation Safe Stop writes that as many as 50,000 motorists pass school buses illegally each day in the state. Between the years of 2002 and 2004, 69 New York students were injured by motorists who failed to stop. One student was killed.
Seat Belts
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New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 383 states that "every school bus...manufactured for use in this state on and after July 1, 1987, shall be designed so that all passenger seats...are equipped with seat safety belts and increased seat back padding." The law required existing school buses to be retrofitted to meet the legal requirements. The state granted the commissioner of transportation the authority to exempt certain school buses from the retrofitting requirement provided other safety standards were met. Bus drivers are also required to wear seat belts. Each school district is responsible for developing the polices regarding seat belt requirements on school buses.
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Child Seats
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School buses that transport children under age 4 must provide federally certified child safety seats. The same is required of student transportation vehicles that do not meet the federal school bus construction standards, such as a van or SUV.
Bus Drivers
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New York requires bus drivers to meet eligibility requirements. Vehicle and Traffic Law Section T5A19-A states that bus drivers must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver's license for the operation of a school bus in New York. Bus drivers must pass a physical exam. They must not have a disqualification under any other part of New York driving laws. Drivers who are convicted of a crime or involved in accidents, or who exhibit other disqualifying behaviors are subject to review and dismissal.
Motorist Laws
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Drivers of motor vehicles must stop when the red flashing lights on a school bus are turned on. Red flashing lights indicate students are boarding or exiting the school bus. Motorists are required to come to a complete stop regardless of whether they are behind the bus or approaching the bus from the opposite direction. The law applies on all streets, including multilane highways. Motorists who pass a bus illegally are subject to a fine of $250 to $400 for the first offense. Ticketed drivers may be assigned points on their license and sentenced to a 30-day jail term.
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References
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- Photo Credit school bus image by alwayspp from Fotolia.com
