a)

Grab Handles

PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:

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.

REJECT VEHICLE IF:

Grab handles are not securely attached, do not meet requirements or are missing.

b)

Lifts and Ramps

PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:

Floor of ramp or lift shall be covered with nonskid material.

Protection against dust and water sufficient to ensure reliable operation must be present.

REJECT VEHICLE IF:

Lifts and ramps do not operate properly or do not meet requirements.

1)

Power Lift

PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:

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.

If electricity is used, the alternator or generator and battery must be of increased capacity.

Controls shall be operable from both interior and exterior of vehicle.

Device shall be installed that will be used to prevent operation of lift until doors are opened.

In travel position, the lift must be in its uppermost position and securely fastened.

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.

REJECT VEHICLE IF:

Power lift does not operate properly or does not meet requirements.

2)

Ramp

PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:

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.

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.

Ramp shall be connected to bus at floor level in such manner as to permit easy access of wheelchair to floor of bus.

Ramp length shall be sufficient for easy entry and exit.

REJECT VEHICLE IF:

Ramp does not operate properly; does not meet requirements.

c)

Over Center

Door Control

PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:

Over center door control shall be provided only when this door is used for entry and exit of children.

REJECT VEHICLE IF:

If installed, does not operate properly. Does not meet requirements. Missing when required.

d)

Seat Safety Belts

PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:

Passenger seats on Type I school buses are not required by State or federal law to be equipped with seat safety belts. However, seat safety belts may be required pursuant to a student's IEP or as stated below.

If seat safety belts are present, they must be firmly secure. They must not show excessive wear and the buckle must function properly. Each seat safety belt must be readily available for quick and easy use. If retractors are installed, they must be the automatic locking type.

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.

REJECT VEHICLE IF:

If present, seat safety belts are not firmly secure or show excessive wear, or buckle does not function properly.

Barrier is not present in front of aide's seat and no seat safety belts are provided. No letter of exception provided.

e)

Special Light

PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:

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.

REJECT VEHICLE IF:

Special light does not operate properly, does not meet requirements or is missing.

f)

Special

Service Door

PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:

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.

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.

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.

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.

Door panels shall be constructed to be equivalent in strength and materials to other school bus doors.

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.

Bi-parting doors (if installed) must meet the following requirements:

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.

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.

Sliding doors are acceptable provided they meet manufacturer's specifications.

REJECT VEHICLE IF:

Special service door does not operate properly; does not meet requirements; audible or visible alarm does not work or is missing.

Bi-parting or sliding doors do not operate properly. Do not meet requirements. Door does not seal properly. Weather seal is cracked or missing.

g)

Wheelchair

Occupant

Restraints

PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:

1)

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.

2)

For buses manufactured on or after January 17, 1994, each wheelchair location that transports a student in a wheelchair must be equipped with:

A)

Not less than one anchorage for the upper end of the upper torso restraint;

B)

Not less than two floor anchorages for wheelchair occupant pelvic and upper torso restraint; and

C)

Wheelchair occupant pelvic and upper torso restraints. (49 CFR 571.222)

REJECT VEHICLE IF:

Wheelchair occupant restraints do not meet requirements.

h)

Wheelchair

Securement

Anchorage

PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:

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.

In buses manufactured on or after January 17, 1994, each wheelchair location must be equipped with forward-facing wheelchair securement anchorages. Additional securement anchorages which 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)

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)

REJECT VEICLE IF:

In buses manufactured prior to January 17, 1994, wheelchair securement anchorages do not securely hold wheelchair to floor, walls or both.

In buses manufactured on and after January 17, 1994:

1)

Each wheelchair location is not equipped with forward-facing wheelchair securement anchorages. Additional anchorages do not meet same standards as existing anchorages.

2)

Wheelchair securement anchorages do not meet requirements.