Generally, a
school bus used for transporting children declared eligible for special
transportation services shall comply with the applicable minimum standards for either
a Type I school bus (see 92 Ill. Adm. Code 440) or a Type II school bus (see 92
Ill. Adm. Code 442). However, due to the nature of certain challenging
conditions, vehicles utilized for special education transportation shall be
adapted to the specific needs of the children receiving this service. These
needs may require modification of the minimum standards. Equipment necessary
for the transportation of special education students must be resolved in the
student's Individualized Education Program.
The interior
design of these vehicles will not be a cause for rejection provided an
approval, issued by the Department, is presented to the Certified Safety Tester
at the time of inspection.
a)
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Grab Handles
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PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:
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Grab handles shall be provided
on each side of front right service door only when this door is used for
entry and exit of children.
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REJECT VEHICLE IF:
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Grab handles are not securely
attached, do not meet requirements or are missing.
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b)
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Lifts and Ramps
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PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:
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Floor of ramp or lift shall be
covered with nonskid material.
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Protection against dust and
water sufficient to ensure reliable operation must be present.
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REJECT VEHICLE IF:
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Lifts and ramps do not operate
properly or do not meet requirements.
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1)
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Power Lift
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PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:
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If power lift is used, it
shall be of sufficient capacity and dimension to lift maximum imposed load,
lift at top and bottom travel limits shall provide easy entrance and exit
from the lift.
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If electricity is used, the
alternator or generator and battery must be of increased capacity.
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Controls shall be operable
from both interior and exterior of vehicle.
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Device shall be installed that
will be used to prevent operation of lift until doors are opened.
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In travel position, the lift
must be in its uppermost position and securely fastened.
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Vehicles of less than
54-passenger capacity constructed for transportation of handicapped children
may have the fuel tank located behind rear wheels, inside or outside chassis
frame, with fill pipe located on right side of body.
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REJECT VEHICLE IF:
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Power lift does not operate
properly or does not meet requirements.
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2)
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Ramp
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PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:
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Ramp shall be of sufficient
strength and rigidity to support the imposed load. Shall be equipped with
protective flange on each longitudinal side to keep wheelchair on ramp.
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Ramp shall be equipped with
handle, or handles, and be of sufficient weight to permit one person to put
ramp in place and return to storage place.
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Ramp shall be connected to bus
at floor level in such manner as to permit easy access of wheelchair to floor
of bus.
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Ramp length shall be sufficient
for easy entry and exit.
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REJECT VEHICLE IF:
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Ramp does not operate properly
or does not meet requirements.
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c)
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Over Center
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Door Control
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PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:
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Over center door control shall
be provided only when this door is used for entry and exit of children.
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REJECT VEHICLE IF:
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If installed, does not operate
properly, does not meet requirements or is missing when required.
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d)
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Seat Safety Belts
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PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:
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In buses manufactured on or
after April 1, 1977, seat safety belts are required at each designated
seating position and must meet all applicable requirements of 49 CFR 571.222.
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Each seat safety belt must be
readily available for quick and easy use. They must not show excessive wear and
the buckle must function properly. If retractors are installed, they must be
the automatic locking type.
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Special education school buses
may be equipped with passenger seats that do not have guard barriers
installed in front of them. These passenger seats are to be used only by
students' aides and must be equipped with seat safety belts at each location
used by an aide. The school bus driver must present a letter from the
Commercial Vehicle Safety Section approving this exception.
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In buses manufactured prior to
April 1, 1977, seat belts are optional.
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REJECT VEHICLE IF:
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Seat safety belts do not meet
requirements.
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Barrier is not present in
front of aide's seat and no seat safety belt is provided. No letter of
exception provided.
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e)
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Special Light
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PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:
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Light shall be placed inside
bus over special service door opening, or at other location if shielded to
prevent glare. The lamp shall illuminate the floor inside the opening and
shall be operated from door area.
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REJECT VEHICLE IF:
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Special light does not operate
properly, does not meet requirements or is missing.
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f)
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Special
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Service Door
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PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:
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A special door opening may be
located on right side of bus far enough to rear to prevent door, when open,
from obstructing front right service door. Door opening shall be adequate to
accommodate wheel chairs.
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Door shall be equipped with
device that will actuate audible or visible signal, located in driver's compartment,
when special service door is not securely closed.
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Each door shall contain a
fixed or movable window aligned with and of same size (as nearly as
practicable) as other windows on right side of bus.
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Each door panel shall open
outward and a positive fastening device shall be installed to hold door in
open position. When the special service door is completely open for loading
and unloading passengers with special needs and being held by the fastening
device the audible alarm can be deactivated.
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Door panels shall be
constructed to be equivalent in strength and materials to other school bus
doors.
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Door posts and headers shall
be reinforced sufficiently to provide support and strength equivalent to area
of side of bus not used for service doors. Outriggers from chassis shall be
installed at front and rear of door openings to support floor with same
strength as other floor portions.
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Bi-parting doors (if
installed) must meet the following requirements:
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Bi-parting door shall be made
of two panels of approximately equal width. They shall be hinged to side of
bus and each panel shall open outward. Forward panels shall be provided with
overlapping flange to close space where door panels meet and weather seal
shall be provided to close all door edges.
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Bi-parting door shall be
equipped with at least one-point fastening device on rear panel to floor or
header and at least two-point fastening device to floor and header on forward
floor door panel, both manually operated.
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Sliding doors are acceptable
provided they meet manufacturer's specifications.
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REJECT VEHICLE IF:
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Special service door does not
operate properly. Does not meet requirements. Audible or visible alarm does
not work or is missing.
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Bi-parting or sliding doors do
not operate properly or do not meet requirements. Door does not seal
properly. Weather seal is cracked or missing.
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g)
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Wheelchair
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Occupant
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Restraints
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PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:
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1)
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For buses manufactured prior
to January 17, 1994, appropriate and adequate wheelchair occupant restraints
must be installed at each wheelchair location which transports a student in a
wheelchair. The restraints must be securely anchored to the wheelchair or the
floor of the vehicle.
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2)
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For buses manufactured on or
after January 17, 1994, each wheelchair location which transports a student
in a wheelchair must be equipped with:
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A)
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Not less than one anchorage
for the upper end of the upper torso restraint;
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B)
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Not less than two floor
anchorages for wheelchair occupant pelvic and upper torso restraint; and
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C)
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Wheelchair occupant pelvic and
upper torso restraints. (49 CFR 571.222)
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REJECT VEHICLE IF:
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Wheelchair occupant restraints
do not meet requirements.
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h)
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Wheelchair
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Securement
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Anchorage
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PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:
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In buses manufactured prior to
January 17, 1994, positive wheelchair securement anchorages shall be provided
and attached to the floor, walls, or both, that will securely hold wheelchair
in position in bus.
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In buses manufactured on or
after January 17, 1994, each wheelchair location must be equipped with
forward-facing wheelchair securement anchorages. Additional securement
anchorages that allow other than forward-facing orientation can be added to a
wheelchair location provided the forward-facing anchorages are not altered
and the additional anchorages meet the same standards as the existing
fastening devices. (49 CFR 571.222)
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In buses manufactured on or
after January 17, 1994, each wheelchair location must be equipped with two
wheelchair securement anchorages in the rear and two anchorages in the front.
Each securement device must be either of webbing or strap and provide means of
adjustment or of a design that provides limited movement. (49 CFR 571.222)
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REJECT VEICLE IF:
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In buses manufactured prior to
January 17, 1994, wheelchair securement anchorages do not securely hold
wheelchair to floor, walls or both.
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In buses manufactured on and
after January 17, 1994:
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1)
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Each wheelchair location is
not equipped with forward-facing wheelchair securement anchorages. Additional
anchorages do not meet same standards as existing anchorages.
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2)
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Wheelchair securement
anchorages do not meet requirements.
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(Source: Amended at 23 Ill. Reg. 8447, effective July 8, 1999)