004.01
Pre-trip Vehicle Inspections. Designated pupil
transportation personnel or designated personnel of the employer shall perform
a pre-trip inspection prior to placing the vehicle in service and shall
promptly report in writing to the school administrator or person designated by
the local school governing board any defects or deficiencies discovered that
may affect the operational safety of the vehicle or result in its mechanical
breakdown. The pre-trip inspection procedures require the conduction of both
stationary and operating inspections. The inspection shall be conducted
according to the procedures in Appendix C.
004.01A For purposes of this Section, a
"trip" means the transportation from one predetermined destination to another
with students on board. A new trip occurs whenever an hour or more expires
before the next trip.
004.02
Post-Trip
Check. Pupil transportation vehicle drivers shall conduct an
interior walk-through inspection for students that may remain on a school s
bus, and a visual inspection for students that may remain in a small vehicle,
at the end of each route or activity trip.
004.03
Safe Stops for Loading and
Unloading Children. No school bus shall stop to load or unload
pupils unless there is at least four hundred (400) feet of clear vision in each
direction of travel (Section
60-6,175(3)
R.R.S.).
004.03A When a school bus is (a) parked in a
designated school bus loading area which is out of the flow of traffic and
which is adjacent to a school site or (b) parked on a roadway which possesses
more than one lane of traffic flowing in the same direction and which is
adjacent to a school site, the bus driver shall engage only the hazard warning
flasher lights when receiving or discharging pupils if a school bus loading
area warning sign is displayed. Such signs shall not be directly attached to
any school bus but shall be free standing and placed at the rear of a parked
school bus or line of parked school buses. No school district shall utilize a
school bus loading area warning sign unless such sign complies with the
requirements of Section
60-6,176
R.R.S.
004.03B The following
procedure shall be followed by the pupil transportation vehicle driver when
controlling traffic with a school bus during the process of loading and
unloading:
004.03B1 Use rearview mirror
system to check all traffic.
004.03B2 Reduce the school bus speed with
minimal brake usage and without greatly interrupting the flow of traffic.
004.03C Activate the
school bus flashing yellow warning signal lights:
004.03C1 Not less than 500 feet or more than
1,000 feet from the bus stop in any area outside the corporate limits of any
city or villager; or
004.03C2 At
least 300 feet and not more than 600 feet from the bus stop within the
corporate limits of any city or village.
004.03D During the stopping process, the
pupil transportation vehicle shall allow sufficient area to the right of the
bus so that children and other passengers may clear the bus safely.
004.03E After the school bus has stopped, the
pupil transportation vehicle driver shall:
004.03E1 Place the transmission in "Park",
and if there is no "Park" shift point, place the transmission in "Neutral" and
set the parking brake at each stop;
004.03E2 Check to see if traffic is able to
stop, activate the alternating flashing red signal lamps, and extend stop arm;
004.03E3 Check to see if road is
clear in both directions or that all traffic is stopped. When the road is clear
and all traffic has stopped, open door to load and unload children and other
passenger;
004.03E4 Require that
when the children and other passengers have left the bus, they walk to a
distance of approximately twelve (12) feet in front of the bus before crossing
the roadway;
004.03E5 When children
and other passengers are safely across the road, or on their way home, the
pupil transportation vehicle driver shall close the door, ensure all passengers
are seated, retract stop arm, turn off alternately flashing warning lights,
check the traffic and proceed. All passengers shall remain seated while the bus
is in motion.
004.04
Railroad Crossing
Procedure. The following sequence of actions apply to all drivers
of school buses, activity buses, and Multi-Function School Activity Buses
(MFSAB), either loaded or unloaded, during the process of approaching and
crossing railroad tracks except at any such crossing where a police officer or
a traffic control flagman (railroad employee) directs traffic to proceed:
004.04A Approach the tracks with caution and
decelerate the vehicle;
004.04B
Activate the hazard warning flasher lights at a distance of not less than 200
feet from the nearest railroad track;
004.04C Stop the bus within 50 feet, but not
less than 15 feet from the nearest rail, Place the transmission in "Park, and
if there is no "Park" shift point, place in "Neutral" and press down on the
service brake or set the parking brakes;
004.04D Command the cooperation of passengers
in an effort to provide maximum quietness;
004.04E After quietness has been achieved,
open the service door and driver's window, listen and look in both directions
along such track for any approaching train and for signals indicating the
approach of a train;
004.04F If no
train is approaching, proceed in a gear low enough to permit crossing the
tracks without having to shift gears (vehicles with automatic transmissions
should put the transmission in the drive gear);
004.04F1 When two (2) or more tracks are to
be crossed, do not stop unnecessarily a second time unless the rear bumper of
the school bus is completely clear of the first track and has at least 15 feet
clearance in front and at least 15 feet clearance from the track to the
rear.
004.04G Railroad
tracks shall not be crossed unless absolutely certain there would be at least
15 feet of clearance from the rear bumper of the school bus to the nearest rail
should the bus need to stop after crossing the railroad tracks; and
004.04H Deactivate warning hazard lights
after the bus completely crosses the railroad tracks.
004.05
Emergency Evacuation Drill
Procedure. At least twice during each school year, each pupil who
is transported in a school bus shall be instructed in safe riding practices and
participate in emergency evacuation drills conducted by a pupil transportation
vehicle driver who is Qualified to operate a school bus. The emergency
evacuation drill procedure will be conducted according Appendix B. The chief
administrative officer or chairperson of the board of education representing a
public school district or the chief administrative officer or chairperson of
the governing authority representing any nonpublic school shall annually
certify, a verification statement, to the Department of Education that the
evacuation drills required pursuant to this Section have been conducted. Such
verification statement shall be sent to the Department of Education no later
than June 30.
004.06
Accident Procedures and Prevention
004.06A The following procedures shall be
observed by a pupil transportation vehicle driver in the case of an accident
involving a pupil transportation vehicle:
004.06A1 Stop the vehicle immediately;
004.06A2 Remain at the scene of
the accident and render reasonable assistance to any person injured in the
accident;
004.06A3 Make certain all
pupils are in a safe place away from traffic and that pupils are not permitted
to leave the assigned area without permission;
004.06A4 Notify the law enforcement agency
immediately and inform the school administrator and request medical assistance;
004.06A5 Obtain the names, license
numbers, registration numbers, location, time, road and weather conditions that
are accurately written down;
004.06A6 Set three flares or reflectors to
warn traffic as follows:
004.06A6a On the
traffic side of the vehicle, within ten (10) feet of the rear corner to mark
the location of the vehicle.
004.06A6b On the shoulder of the road or in
the lane the vehicle is stopped in, about 100 feet behind and ahead of the
vehicle. (See Appendix A, Figure 1)
004.06A6c Back beyond any hill, curve, or
other obstruction that prevents other drivers from seeing the vehicle within
500 feet. (See Appendix A, Figure 2)
004.06A6d If the vehicle must stop on or by a
one-way, or divided highway, place flares or reflectors 10 feet, 100 feet, and
200 feet toward the approaching traffic.
004.06A7 Provisions shall be made for
transporting pupils to their homes or to school as determined by local school
policy.
004.06A8 The driver of any
pupil transportation vehicle, which is in any manner involved in an accident
within the state, in which any person is killed or injured, or in which damage
to an apparent extent in excess of $1, 000.00 is sustained to the property of
any one person, including such driver shall within ten (10) days report the
matter in writing on prescribed forms to the Nebraska Department of Motor
Vehicles.
004.06B
Procedures for Other Accidents. When a pupil
transportation vehicle driver approaches a scene of an accident in which the
pupil transportation vehicle is not involved and no other assistance is
available, the vehicle driver shall stop, put on four (4)-way flashers to warn
approaching traffic and determine the necessity of being of assistance, provide
reasonable assistance and thereafter immediately continue on the route
schedule.
004.07
Additional Pupil Transportation Vehicle Operating
Regulations
004.07A
Speed Limits. The maximum pupil transportation vehicle
speed limit shall be as posted or as otherwise provided by applicable laws or
ordinances; however, speed should be governed by reasonable individual judgment
and existing operating conditions.
004.07B
Convoy
Distance. A pupil transportation vehicle shall not follow another
vehicle within 475 feet when traveling outside the corporate limits of a town
or city. The preceding is not intended to prevent a pupil transportation
vehicle from passing another motor vehicle.
004.07C
Tobacco
Products. Smoking and/or the use of any tobacco product in a pupil
transportation vehicle shall be prohibited at all times.
004.07D
Backing. The
driver of a school, activity, or coach bus owned and operated by a school shall
not drive backwards on the school grounds unless the rear of the bus is
observed and directed by a second responsible person. The driver of any pupil
transportation vehicle shall not back such vehicle on any roadway unless such
movement can be made with safety and without interfering with other traffic.
004.07E
Towing. Pupil transportation vehicles shall not be
operated with a trailer or other vehicle attached while children are being
transported.
004.07F
Occupant Protection Systems. The transportation
vehicle driver shall be required to wear lap/shoulder belts whenever the
vehicle is in motion. When occupant protection systems/lap belts are provided
in the pupil transportation vehicle, passengers shall wear the occupant
protection system. Children up to the age of eight (8) years of age shall use
Federally-approved child passenger restraint systems as required by Section
60-6,267
R.R.S.
004.07G
Hourly
Driving Limitation. It shall be unlawful for any person operating
a pupil transportation vehicle to be or remain on duty for a longer period than
sixteen (16) consecutive hours. When any person operating a pupil
transportation vehicle shall have been continuously on duty for sixteen (16)
consecutive hours, he or she shall be relieved and not be permitted or required
to again go on duty without having at least ten (10) consecutive hours off
duty, and no such driver, who has been on duty sixteen (16) hours in the
aggregate in any twenty-four (24) hour period, shall be required or permitted
to continue or again go on duty without having had at least eight (8)
consecutive hours off duty.
004.07G1 For
purposes of this Section, "on duty" means time spent doing any of the
following: driving, loading, unloading, or supervising or assisting in loading
or unloading persons or property from or into vehicles, or repairing,
inspecting or otherwise attending to a vehicle or its passengers.
004.07G2 When transportation of pupils is
subject to the hourly driving limitation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Regulations (49 CFR Part 395), then such requirements shall govern.
004.07H
Seating. Seating shall be provided that will permit
each occupant to sit in a seat as intended by the manufacturer. Neither the
manufacturer's rated seating capacity nor the manufacturer's gross vehicle
weight (GVW) shall be exceeded at any time the pupil transportation vehicle is
in motion. In addition, the aisle and exit and entry areas shall be clear and
unobstructed while the pupil transportation vehicle is in motion. Routing and
seating plans shall be coordinated so as to eliminate standees when a school
vehicle is in motion. There shall be no auxiliary seating accommodations such
as temporary or folding jump seats in pupil transportation vehicles. If
permanent seats are removed or added to a pupil transportation vehicle, such
installation shall be completed by the dealer or manufacturer.
004.07I
Use of Strobe
Light. The white flashing strobe light shall be used only in
adverse weather conditions, when the pupil transportation vehicle is in
distress or to enhance the visibility of the pupil transportation vehicle when
barriers inhibit such visibility.
004.07J
Use of
Headlights. Pupil transportation vehicles shall operate with
headlights on at all times.
004.07K
Small Vehicles Used on
Routes. When a small vehicle is used to transport students on a
route, the driver shall pull off the road into a driveway, parking lot, or
other appropriate safe location prior to loading and unloading students.
004.07L
Use of
Handheld Wireless Communication Device. Drivers shall not use a
handheld wireless communication device to read written communication, type
written communication, or send written communication while operating pupil
transportation vehicles. If the use of a handheld wireless communication device
whether for written or verbal communication, is necessary, the driver shall
pull the pupil transportation vehicle off of the road of before using this
device. (This does not preclude the use of a two-way communication device
required by 92 NAC 92-subsection 005.11.)
004.07M
Leaving Pupil
Transportation Vehicle with Passengers on Board. Unless a running
engine is required to operate a power lift or ramp (see 92 NAC 92-007.07),
drivers of pupil transportation vehicles shall not leave a pupil transportation
vehicle when passengers are on board unless the vehicle is parked in a safe
location, the engine is in the off position, the keys have been removed and in
the possession of the driver.