School Bus Rules And Regulations in USA

School buses are undoubtedly one of the safest forms of transportation in the United States. A school bus is the safest vehicle on the road, providing safety to your child more than travelling by car.

However, significant risks remain even with the tightened safety standards that exist for school transportation vehicles. That's why safety standards for school buses should be clear and consistently enforced.

Requirements of School buses

In the US, there is a specific standard that school buses have to meet. Below are the requirements and conditions that school buses must abide by to meet the standard.

Colour and Identification

School buses should be painted National School Bus Yellow.
Handrails and bumpers should be painted black.
School buses should have the words “SCHOOL BUS” printed on both the front and rear of the bus, high enough to be visible to others.
District name and number should be placed below the window line on each side, in letters at least 4 inches high.
Contractor or Cooperative name should be placed below the window line on each side, in letters at least 4 inches high.
Wheels can be finished in standard black, yellow or chrome.
Reflector signs or decals should be affixed to the rear of the bus and must maintain a minimum of 400 square inches.

Interior and Exterior

The bus interior should be free of all unnecessary projections other than the seats, handrails and attendant handrails.
All seats from top to bottom of the windows should be covered with an upholstered, durable material.
Ceilings should be constructed to a standard height. Exposed edges should be trimmed, formed or beaded.
School buses should be constructed so that noise levels within the compartment do not exceed the standard set by SAE/RMA.
Identification of individual student seating should be placed above the windows in the passenger compartment.
Outside storage compartments must not contain flammable items like aerosol cans and cleaners; fuels must not be placed in the outside compartment.
Interior camera systems cannot be mounted in a way that obstructs the driver's view; if mounted centrally, sharp edges must be rounded and protected with padded material.
Handrails and equipment should be placed so they do not create a tripping hazard.
The exterior body should be clear of all protrusions prone to snagging.
Fuel doors and latches must not be a snagging hazard and must not be detachable by students.
Exterior mirror systems must be installed so they do not obstruct visibility and will not interfere with the normal use of the mirror when the bus is in motion.

CAPACITY PLATE

A label identifying the maximum design capacity of the bus should be affixed inside the bus near the driver's seat.

CERTIFICATION

School Bus

Upon request, certification of the body, chassis, and after-market parts manufacturers shall be submitted to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to certify that the product meets all State and National School Transportation Specifications & Procedures, and forms not covered by certification issued under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

School Bus Driver

School bus drivers are required to hold a commercial driver's license (CDL) in order to legally operate a bus. Each state has its own standards and qualifications for earning a CDL — most require a driver to pass both a driving test and a written test before they can operate a large vehicle. Drivers are also required to earn a passenger (P) endorsement on their CDL to work as a commercial bus driver; school bus drivers need an additional (S) endorsement.

RESPONSIBILITIES

No matter how safe the vehicle is, if the people involved are not responsible, the risk of trouble remains.

DRIVER

Drivers of school buses play a pivotal role in helping children get to their destination safely.

Students transported on the school bus are under the full authority of the driver, who is responsible for the safety of the students while they are on the bus or being transported.

Persistent misconduct or continued refusal to submit to the authority of the driver is adequate reason for a student to be denied transportation.

School bus drivers shall not allow any student to disembark other than at an established stop between home and school. School bus drivers have responsibilities to uphold while on duty:

Always obey the rules and regulations of the Highway Traffic Act.
Adhere to the pick-up and drop-off points and bus schedules that have been established by the school.
Bus drivers are not authorized to make changes to routes; follow the routes that have been planned and approved by the school except in unavoidable situations. Any deviation from the route must be reported to authorized people immediately.
Refrain from using unauthorized aggressive language or shouting.
Notify the school immediately in the event of an emergency or a breakdown.
Must always act in accordance with privacy procedures and freedom-of-information rules.
Should not idle the school bus unnecessarily under any circumstances.

Students

Students have to follow certain rules to keep themselves safe. The following are the responsibilities students have while riding the bus:

Students must arrive at the bus stop on time — last-minute arrivals cause schedule delays, traffic hazards and pedestrian risk.
Stand well back from the street until the bus has arrived, stopped and opened its door.
Respect the tranquility of the bus stop neighbourhood; follow indicated stop signs and property.
Take a seat immediately when boarding the bus and remain seated until the bus has reached its destination.
Remain in your seat, facing forward, for the entire duration of the trip.
Respect the window boundary — no body parts should extend from the bus window.
Respect the personal space of other riders. Bullying of any kind is not tolerated.
Do not distract the driver with your voice or actions.
Do not tamper with bus controls, safety equipment or emergency exits.
Do not eat, drink, chew gum, smoke or vape on the bus.
Do not bring dangerous or destructive objects onto the bus.
Students must help maintain the cleanliness of the bus.

Parents

Parents/guardians are responsible for their children's safe arrival at the bus stop and must ensure their children understand the conduct expected of them during the journey from home to school. Here are the responsibilities they must attend to in order to ensure their child's safety:

Ensure your child arrives safely at the assigned bus stop, and make arrangements to have your child met if they are dropped off and no one is there to receive them.
Teach your children about the traffic rules they must follow while on and near the road.

Parents are advised to notify the school administration of any negligence or offence on the part of the bus driver.