School Bus Rules and Regulations in Lebanon

School buses provide safer and more efficient transportation for students attending school. The Lebanese Ministry of Transport has implemented strict rules for school buses that transport students on a daily basis.

School bus requirements

School bus windows should not be tinted, and the use of window curtains is forbidden in Lebanon.
The colour of the school bus should be yellow, without any overlapping of other colours.
The non-metallic materials of the school bus, like bumpers and lettering, can be painted black.
The words “school bus” should be written in both Arabic and English, and should be displayed in large black font.
The lettering should be 20cm in height, not exceeding 1500 square cm, and must be displayed on the front, side and rear of the bus.
The school bus sign should be made of reflective material and must be placed on the front, right side and left rear side of the bus.
School bus drivers are required to be over 25 years old and must hold a driver's licence with a school bus permit.
School bus drivers have to take a mandatory “School Bus Driver's Basic Course”.
School buses are required to carry fire extinguishers and first aid kits.

School Bus Interior

The bus interior should be clear of every unwanted projection that could be injurious to students.
The school bus interior must only consist of luggage racks and handrails. Luggage racks should only be used to carry study equipment — other objects that are hazardous should not be carried in the luggage racks.
The entrance door operation of the bus must be totally controlled by the bus driver.
School buses are advised to install a cooling system which operates at a temperature not exceeding 24 degrees Celsius.
The entrance and exit doors should be fitted with handrails to support the boarding process.
The distance between bus seats should not exceed 40cm; triple seats are prohibited.

Safety Standards

Stop arms should be installed on the driver's side, indicating when students are crossing.
The school bus must be fitted with multiple mirrors (both inside and outside) so that the driver can get a comprehensive view of the bus and its surroundings.
School buses should be fitted with flashing lights, brake lights, and indicators.
Crossbars are not allowed on windows in Lebanese school buses.
Other than the exit and entry doors, school buses are required to have an emergency exit in case of any unplanned incident.
The controls of the emergency exit should be manufactured so the door won't open accidentally.
School bus speed should not exceed 60km/hr at any time.

Responsibilities of School Bus Drivers

School bus drivers are in charge of the students while on board. If a student's misbehaviour disturbs the conduct of the bus, that student can be excluded from school transportation.
Drivers are instructed to seat boys and girls separately — mixed seating is prohibited in Lebanon; boys should be seated at the front and girls at the back.
School bus drivers are in charge of the supervision of the bus assigned to them, and must carry out required maintenance work every 10,000 km.

Responsibilities of Parents and Students

No matter how many safety measures are taken to keep the bus journey safe, if a student does not live up to the conduct expected of them during the journey, that preparation goes to waste.

So parents are responsible for educating their children on how to behave in such situations.

Parents must educate their children about traffic rules at home.
Parents must teach their children how to behave on the school bus and around school bus drivers.
Students are advised to behave properly on the school bus, and to follow the behavioural conduct introduced by the Ministry of Education in Lebanon.
Students are not allowed to put their body parts out of the bus, or to disturb other motorists on the road.

Students are in charge of keeping the bus clean, and if they find the vehicle untidy, they are instructed to inform the faculty at once. School buses are compulsorily required to meet the school fleet standards to transport students daily — otherwise, the Lebanese Ministry of Transport is bound to take strict measures against school fleets that do not satisfy the standards.