If any school or church bus used in the transportation of children is stopped upon a highway for the purpose of receiving or discharging passengers, with the stop arm and signal lights activated, the operator of a vehicle approaching from any direction shall bring his vehicle to a stop and shall not proceed until the bus has completed receiving Just pay attention to what is happening. Get to the school bus stop five minutes early so you won't have to run across the road to catch the bus. Check out this graphic that helps illustrate Pennsylvania's school bus stopping law. The law states that when approaching emergency vehicles that are going slow or stopped on any highway with at least two lanes of traffic, drivers are to reduce their speed to a reasonable speed below the speed limit and move over to the shoulder or breakdown lane or to the other lane, away from them. The following procedures are meant to be general guidelines. How do NHTSAs school bus regulations apply to vehicle dealers? If you must back up at a student drop off point, be sure to unload students after backing. No. For example, a dealer selling a new 15-passenger van to be used for school transportation must ensure that the van is certified as meeting our school bus FMVSSs. (NRS 484B.353) Even if there are active railroad signals that indicate the tracks are clear, you must look and listen to be sure it is safe to proceed. Facebook Added 3 minutes 10 seconds ago|2/28/2023 10:48:53 PM Defensive Driving CoursesThese courses typically are for students who got a traffic ticket or were court ordered. There is an imminent danger of an accident. Web(3) Backing a school bus is prohibited unless an adult flagman assists or an emergency exists. What should you be able to see if the outside flat mirrors are adjusted properly? If a police officer is at the crossing, obey directions. Students should be told to leave any dropped object and move to a point of safety out of the danger zones and attempt to get the drivers attention to retrieve the object. Parents, legal guardians, or chartering parties are prohibited from transporting on a bus that is equipped with safety belts, or permitting to be transported on a bus that is equipped with safety belts, a child, ward, or passenger who is under 8 years of age and under 4 feet 9 inches in height, but under 16 years old, unless they are properly restrained by a safety belt. *Refer to the PMCP educational pamphlet for more information about these motor carriers. When unloading at the school, you should follow these procedures: Dropped or Forgotten Objects. What is a school-related event, for the purposes of NHTSAs school bus regulations? Do not show anger, but do show that you mean business. NHTSA does not regulate, under our school bus regulations, the types of vehicles that may be sold for the purpose of transporting children to and from these facilities. Drivers must be alert and aware of all other vehicles that they are sharing the road with, especially vehicles that have the right of way. The uniformity of school bus appearance helps motorists identify the vehicles as school buses. Yes, and can only go when red flashing lights are off. The mirror presents a view of people and objects that does not accurately reflect their size and distance from the bus. Be sure to provide adequate instruction so that every student is familiar with school bus emergency procedures and equipment use, as well as the safe loading and unloading procedures. These mirrors are mounted on both the left and right front corners of the bus. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. The FMVSSs applicable to school buses require that school buses have stop arms along with many other safety features over and above those of other passenger vehicles. There is a need to quickly evacuate because of a HazMat spill. Remove the key if leaving the drivers compartment. Extra awareness is also required in rural areas where distracted or Drivers must be stopped until the school bus flashing lights subside. These may include, but are not limited to, sports events, band concerts, field trips, and competitions such as debate or chess tournaments. It requires you to yield the right-of-way to the train. A vehicle designed or used to transport more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation; A vehicle designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers (including the driver), and is not used to transport passengers for compensation; or. That statute you cite is correct. Address:225 East Robinson Street, Suite 570Orlando, FL 32801, About Us | Contact Us | Defensive Driving | State Directory | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Refund Policy. Emergency vehicles in the opposite direction. School bus operation is the use of a school bus to transport only school children and/or school personnel from home to school and from school to home. WebPennsylvania's School Bus Stopping Law Motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm extended. More students are killed while getting on or off a school bus each year than are killed as passengers inside of a school bus. If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping. Because of a trains Tell students to exit the bus and walk at least 10 feet away from the side of the bus to a position where the driver can plainly see all students. Drive so you never need to use your ABS. Federal law regulates the manufacture and sale of new vehicles, but does not regulate vehicle use. Escort all students in prekindergarten, kindergarten, or any grades 1 through eighth, who need to cross the highway or private road where the school bus stopped. This would involve the proper use of mirrors, alternating flashing lights, and, when equipped, the moveable stop signal arm, and crossing control arm. The Safety Act defines a school bus as a bus that is likely to be used significantly to transport preprimary, primary, or secondary students to or from school or related events. In general, school buses must stop at all crossings, and drivers must ensure it is safe before proceeding across the tracks. Traffic laws in other countries do not require vehicles to stop. Winds light and variable.. A few clouds. The determining factor is whether the bus will likely be used significantly for pupil transportation to or from school or related events. NHTSA does not regulate, under our school bus regulations, the types of vehicles that may be sold for the purpose of transporting children to and from these facilities. [14] This has been interpreted to mean that when approaching a bus from the opposite direction on a normal road with a turn lane, or a road with two lanes in each direction, etc., a driver is not required to stop their vehicle. Remember: The best vehicle safety feature is still a safe driver. Keystone State. You should never back a school bus when students are outside of the bus. Talk quietly; do not distract your school bus driver. Here are the laws on when you must stop for these vehicles. Your actions could mean the difference between life and death. [citation needed], The National Conference of State Legislators has reported an increase in the number of states using school bus stop-arm cameras to record motorists who violate school bus traffic laws. When the lights begin to flash, you must stop! It could be an accident, a stalled school bus on a railroad-highway crossing or in a high-speed intersection, an electrical fire in the engine compartment, or medical emergency to a student on the school bus, etc. Web(1) The driver of a vehicle upon overtaking or meeting from either direction any school bus which has stopped on the roadway for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school children shall stop the vehicle before reaching such school bus when there is in operation on said school bus a visual signal as specified in RCW 46.37.190 and said driver shall Online Training For All Your Driving Needs, American Safety Council Reviews and Discussions, Vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle, if the highway has two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the emergency vehicle; or, Slow to a speed not more than 20 mph less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 mph or more; or, Slow to a speed not more than 5 mph when the posted speed limit is less than 25 mph. If there is no radio or cell phone or they are inoperable, dispatch a passing motorist or area resident to call for help. WebOn a divided roadway, only vehicles traveling in the same direction as the school bus are required to stop. Despite an increase in traffic and school bus ridership, annual fatalities and injuries to children struck by other vehicles has decreased as well. WebThe driver of a vehicle, however, need not stop when approaching a school bus if the school bus is stopped on the other roadway of a divided highway, on an access road, or The Move Over law requires drivers to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles on the highway. WebSchool bus drivers do everything they can to keep children safe, but motorists are also responsible for driving safely around school buses. Remind the offender of the expected behavior. Determine if evacuation is in the best interest of safety. Various configurations of school buses are used worldwide; the most iconic examples are the yellow school However, in emergency braking, do not pump the brakes on a bus with ABS. No. WebNo. Pull over to the right edge of the road, or as near to the right as possible, and stop when you see or hear an emergency vehicle approaching from any direction. Never put your head, arms or hands out of the window. Nevertheless, violations are common. Driving an emergency vehicle allows you to exceed/break traffic regulations within reason, but under no circumstances is it legal to Have the students remain seated until told to exit. Emergency vehicles may include those with flashing lights, emergency vehicles responding to an emergency call, fire trucks, police officers, tow trucks, state bridge or parkway authority, utility companies, or maintenance companies. If time permits, school bus drivers should contact their dispatcher to explain the situation before making a decision to evacuate the school bus. This section will give you specific procedures to help you avoid unsafe conditions that could result in injuries and fatalities during and after loading and unloading students. Determine the Need to Evacuate the Bus. If there is a behavior problem on the bus, wait until the students unloading are safely off the bus and have moved away. You may or may not be able to stop faster with ABS, but you should be able to steer around an obstacle while braking, and avoid skids caused by over braking. Are vehicles traveling the opposite direction required to stop? When the road crosses over more than one set of tracks, a sign below the crossbuck indicates the number of tracks. Federal regulations apply only to the manufacture and sale/lease of new vehicles. Persons not sitting or sitting partially outside of the school bus seats will not be afforded the occupant protection provided by the school bus seats. This translation application tool is provided for purposes of information and convenience only. The lookout should not give directions on how to back the bus. Containment or Storage Areas. Connecticut Overweight Truck Penalties & Fines, Connecticut Application Of The Federal Bridge Formula, Connecticut Truck Height, Length And Width Laws, laws on when you must stop for these vehicles, stopped until the school bus flashing lights subside, flashing lights/sirens or a school bus stopping. If you cannot account for a student, secure the bus, take the key, and check around and underneath the bus. When an emergency vehicle is approaching, all drivers in the immediate area must move over to the right side of the road, and clear the intersection as much as possible, stop, and then stay stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed. 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