Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 570 - RULES OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
Chapter 570-30 - PUBLIC SCHOOL BUS INSPECTION
Rule 570-30-.10 - Body
Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 570-30-.10
Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024
(1) All public school buses shall be inspected annually or at the discretion of the Commissioner by employees of the Department of Public Safety.
(2) Each public school bus shall be inspected for:
(a) Front and rear sign containing the
words "School Bus" in letters not less than eight inches (8") in
height.
(b) Every bus used for
transporting school children shall be painted National School Bus Chrome
Yellow.
(c) Have an emergency door
located either at the rear of the body or at the side of the body opposite from
the side on which the students normally board. Said door shall be operative
from both the interior and exterior of the bus at all times.
1. The emergency door shall be equipped with
a slide-bar cam-operated lock. The slide bar shall have a minimum stroke of 1
inch. The emergency door shall be equipped with a suitable electric
plunger-type switch and with buzzers located in the driver's compartment. The
switch shall be enclosed and the wires leading from the switch shall be
concealed in the body. The switch shall be installed so that the plunger of the
switch contacts the farthest edge of the slide bar in such a manner that a
slight movement of the slide bar will immediately close the switch and activate
the buzzer.
2. The door lock shall
be equipped with an interior handle that extends approximately to the center of
the emergency door. It shall lift up to release the lock.
(d) The driver's seat shall be equipped with
a seat belt.
(e) Combination
clearance and marker lights shall be installed at each of the four roof
corners. The two front lights shall be amber in color and the two rear lights
shall be red in color. A cluster of three clearance and marker lights in the
front and rear of the bus at the roof line is required.
(f) The body of said buses shall be equipped
with four hooded or recessed red flasher or four red flasher lamps and four
amber flasher lamps mounted on the same horizontal centerline. The system shall
be wired so that the amber signal lamps are activated only by manual or foot
operation and if activated are automatically deactivated and the red signal
lamps activated when the bus entrance door is opened.
(g) There shall be installed on the left
outside of the body a stop-arm to give notice to drivers of other vehicles that
the bus is making a stop.
(h) The
exhaust system of said buses shall carry exhaust gases from the engine to the
discharge point into the atmosphere which shall be beyond the rear wheels and
extended to a point as follows:
1. When
exhaust is discharged on the side of vehicle, the discharge point shall be at
or beyond the outermost flange of the body at the side of such
vehicle;
2. When exhaust is
discharged at the rear of the vehicle, the discharge point shall be at or
beyond the rear bumper of such vehicle.
(i) All floor joints of such buses shall be
gas tight and constructed so as to prevent the entry of engine exhaust gases
into the passenger compartment. Any opening or separation of joints in the
floor shall be repaired before the bus is used for transportation of
children.
(j) Exterior Mirror. Two
exterior clear-view, rear view mirrors shall be mounted forward, one to the
left and one to the right of the driver. Area of each mirror shall be not less
than 50 square inches overall. Each mirror shall be firmly supported and
adjustable to give the driver a clear view past the left rear and right rear of
the bus.
1. Two exterior convex type mirrors
shall be mounted forward, one to the left and one to the right of the driver.
Each mirror shall be a minimum of 6 x 6 inches overall, rectangular in shape
and shall have a minimum 21 inch to a maximum 30 inch radius of curvature on
the convex. Each mirror shall be firmly supported and adjustable to give the
driver a clear view of the left rear wheels and the immediate adjacent area and
the right wheels and the immediate adjacent area.
(k) An 8" convex cross-view mirror shall be
mounted on the left fender so that the driver shall have a view directly in
front of the bus. The mirror shall have a minimum of 7 1/2 inches of
exposed mirror surface. The case containing the mirror shall be so constructed
that the mirror may be replaced.
1. Exception:
Transit buses shall have 8" convex cross-view mirror mounted on the right
side.
(l) Interior
Mirror. One rear view non-glare mirror 6 inches x 30 inches in size, having a
metal frame and back to be securely attached on the windshield header and so
located as to give the driver a clear view of the entire interior of the bus
and road behind.
(m) Horn. Every
school bus shall be equipped with a horn capable of emitting a sound which,
under normal conditions, shall be audible from a distance of 200
feet.
(n) Radio Speakers. No bus
shall have radio speakers used for music or entertainment forward of a line
five (5) feet from the rear of the driver's seat. Existing speakers in this
area shall be permanently disabled. This prohibition does not apply to speakers
used for communications purposes.
O.C.G.A. Sec. 40-8-220.
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