School Bus Regulations
Regulation- Registration
- R-097-2005
- Source
- Unofficial consolidation PDF (justice.gov.nt.ca)
- Under
- Motor Vehicles Act
This is an unofficial reading copy parsed from the Department of Justice consolidation PDF above — itself an office consolidation, not an official statement of the law. The authoritative text is in the Revised Statutes of the Northwest Territories, 1988 and the annual Statutes volumes.
Interpretation
In these regulations,
"driver" means the driver of a school bus; (conducteur)
"passenger seating capacity" means the number of students that, by applying these regulations, a school bus is permitted to carry; (nombre de passagers)
"school bus" means a vehicle operated for conveying students to or from school by or under a contract with the authority in charge of the school or the Department of Education. (autobus scolaire)
Repealed, R-097-2005,s.2.
EQUIPMENT, SIGNS AND INSPECTION
Inspection
(1) The owner of a school bus shall have the vehicle inspected twice in each year by a mechanic who, in the opinion of the Registrar, is responsible and fully qualified to inspect the vehicle and make any necessary repairs, and shall furnish to an inspector a certificate in the form set out in Schedule B to these regulations, duly completed and signed by that mechanic, that is satisfactory to the inspector.
(2) After an inspection under subsection (1), the owner shall, without delay, have the school bus inspected by the inspector who shall, if he or she finds that the vehicle complies with the requirements of the Act and these regulations, issue to the owner a certificate of safe operating condition in the form set out in Schedule C to these regulations.
(3) The owner shall file the certificate of safe operating condition with the Registrar on or before August 31 and December 31 in each year.
Passenger Compartment
(1) In determining the passenger seating capacity of a school bus the minimum rump width for a seat or the average minimum rump width for a bench-type seat designed for two or more passengers shall be 33 cm, and, in the event of any dispute as to the passenger seating capacity, appeal may be made to the Registrar, whose decision shall be final.
(2) The minimum knee room shall be not less than 60 cm measuring from the back of the undepressed seat cushion to the back of the seat, partition or thing ahead of the seat cushion.
(3) The width of the centre aisle in a school bus shall not be less than 28 cm at the seat base line.
(4) All seats must be securely fastened to that part of the school bus that supports them.
(5) Jump, folding or portable seats are prohibited in a school bus.
Identification and Signs
(1) All school buses having a passenger seating capacity of more than 12 must be painted chrome yellow with black trimmings, and the black trim may be extended to include the top of the hood.
(2) A school bus shall display the words "SCHOOL BUS" in block capitals on the front and rear of the vehicle in a position as close to the top of the vehicle as is practicable.
(3) Each letter of the words required by subsection
(2) shall
(a) be painted black against a yellow background;
(b) have a height not less than 15 cm; and
(c) be so designed that each stroke of the letter has a width not less than 2.5 cm.
(4) The words "SCHOOL BUS" shall be covered when the vehicle is being used for any purpose other than as a school bus.
(5) A school bus having a passenger seating capacity exceeding 12 must display on the rear of the vehicle the words "DO NOT PASS WHEN SIGNALS FLASHING" in a clearly visible position below and as near as is practicable to the words "SCHOOL BUS".
(6) The letters of the words required to be displayed under subsection (5) must be black on a yellow background and at least 75 mm high, and the lines forming the letters must be at least 12 mm wide.
Equipment
(1) Every school bus must, in addition to the requirements respecting equipment specified in Part III of the Act, be equipped with
(a) an interior mirror designed to provide the driver with a good view of all the passengers,
(b) two exterior rear view mirrors, one on each of the left and the right of the vehicle, set to give the driver a clear view past the left rear and right rear of the vehicle, and
(c) a convex "cross over" mirror on the right of the vehicle located and adjusted to give the driver a view of the right front tire and of the ground directly in front of the bus;
(d) tire chains or snow tires for each driving wheel other than those of the dual type;
(e) an accurate speedometer so placed as to indicate to the driver the speed of the vehicle at all times;
(f) a body floor constructed and insulated so as to prevent exhaust gases of the engine from entering the passenger compartment of the vehicle;
(g) adequate heaters maintained in good working condition;
(h) two windshield wipers that operate at a constant speed, and an effective defrosting device that provides clear vision through the windshield and the windows to the left and right of the driver;
(i) a light so arranged as to provide light to the whole of the interior of the vehicle except the driver's position;
(j) an axe or clawbar with handles not less than 60 cm in length that is securely mounted in such a manner and place as to be readily accessible to the driver;
(k) tires that are adequate for the vehicle and load and are in good condition and, in the case of the front tires, have not been rebuilt;
(l) the first aid items mentioned in Schedule D of these regulations;
(m) a securely mounted battery adequate to start the engine and operate the electrical equipment and lights; and
(n) a fire extinguisher of the following type:
(i) for school buses having a passenger seating capacity not exceeding 24, one extinguisher of approximately 2.25 kg in weight, dry chemical, Ansul cartridge operated and ABC rated,
(ii) for school buses having a passenger seating capacity exceeding 24, an extinguisher of the type mentioned in subparagraph (i) but weighing approximately 4.5 kg.
(2) The extinguisher must be securely fastened within the vehicle and readily accessible to the driver.
Signal Lamps and Lights
(1) All school buses having a passenger seating capacity of more than 12 must be equipped with two alternately flashing red warning signal lights on the rear and two on the front.
(2) Front and rear indicator signal lamps must be spaced as far apart laterally as practicable, but in no case must the lamps be spaced less than 1 m apart.
(3) Front signal lamps must be so located that they can be clearly distinguished in darkness when the headlamps are lighted on the dimmed beam.
(4) The indicator signal lamps must be mounted as high as possible, but in no case must the centre of the lamp be lower than the top line of the windows of the school bus.
(5) Vision of all signal lights and lamps must not be obstructed by any part of the school bus.
(6) Indicator lamps must flash no more slowly than 60 and no more quickly than 120 times a minute under normal operating conditions, and the "on" period of the flash sequence must be long enough to permit the bulb filament to come to full brightness.
(7) There must be a visible or audible means of giving a clear and unmistakable indication to the driver when the signal lamps are turned "on" and functioning normally.
(8) The signal lamps must be controlled by an automatic door operated switch and by a spring-return manual switch, and a manually operated master switch must be installed that can disconnect the complete signal system.
(9) All signal lamps and flashing red warning signal lights must conform to the standards for warning signals for school buses as laid down by the Canadian Standards Association, copies of which standards and of all amendments from time to time made to the standards shall be provided on request and free of cost by the Registrar to school bus owners.
Emergency Exits
(1) Every school bus having a passenger seating capacity exceeding 12 must have an emergency door located in the centre rear or the rear left side of the body.
(2) The emergency door referred to in subsection
(1) must be equipped with
(a) a fastening device to enable it to be opened from inside and outside the body and a safety device to prevent the accidental opening of the door; and
(b) a buzzer or other audible device that unmistakably warns the driver when the emergency door is not safely closed.
Equipment Safety Requirements
(1) All lights and signalling devices must be in good operating condition.
(2) All brakes, including the emergency brake, must be adequate for the vehicle and load and be in good operating condition.
(3) The driveshaft must be equipped with one or more protective metal guards that prevent a broken driveshaft from whipping through the floor and dropping to the ground.
(4) The engine exhaust system must be outside the body and must not have cracks or holes allowing the escape of exhaust gases.
(5) The fuel tanks, fuel lines and filler hoses must be free of leaks and must be equipped with proper filler caps.
(6) The body and floor must be reasonably dust- proof and watertight.
(7) All seats must be covered with a suitable padding material.
(8) The entrance door steps and floors must be covered with non-skid type material.
(9) The windows and the windshield must be made of safety glass, and must not be cracked or damaged so as to interfere with the vision of the driver.
(10) Both windshield wipers and windshield washers must be in good operating condition.
(11) Spare wheels, tires, jacks, tire irons, chains, shovels, axes, crowbars, fire extinguishers, toolboxes and other such equipment must be securely fastened down.
OPERATING RULES
Prohibited Operation
No driver shall operate, and no owner shall permit to be operated, any school bus
(a) unless there has been issued in relation to that bus under subsection 3(2) a certificate of safe operating condition that has been duly filed under subsection 3(3), is valid and subsisting and is kept in the bus to be available for inspection by an inspector;
(b) unless it complies with the Act and these regulations and is otherwise in a mechanically safe operating condition;
(c) if its gross weight exceeds the manufacturer's suggested gross weight; and
(d) if its passenger seating capacity is exceeded.
Loading and Discharging Passengers
(1) The driver, when about to stop to load or discharge passengers, shall activate the alternating flashing red warning lights in sufficient time to provide a reasonable warning to other vehicles and shall keep them activated during the entire process of loading or discharging passengers.
(2) The driver shall not activate the alternating flashing red warning lights except when the vehicle is being used as a school bus.
(3) The driver shall exercise due caution in loading and discharging passengers and shall not load or discharge passengers except at places and during times when it appears safe so to do.
(4) The driver shall not move the school bus when passengers are being discharged until all the passengers have reached a place of safety.
(5) The driver shall ensure that all passengers who must cross a highway are aware that they should only cross the highway in front of the school bus, and not behind.
(6) The driver shall not reverse the school bus on school grounds or at loading or unloading stops when passengers are outside the bus unless a responsible adult person is outside the bus to provide signals.
(7) The driver shall not reverse the school bus onto a highway.
(8) The driver shall not leave the school bus without first stopping the motor, setting the brakes and removing the key from the ignition.
Use of Equipment
(1) The owner and driver of a school bus shall ensure that tire chains or snow tires for each driving wheel (other than those of the dual type) are placed on the wheels when the conditions of the highway require their use.
(2) The driver shall ensure that the light mentioned in paragraph 6(1)(i) is constantly lighted during darkness when there are passengers in the school bus.
(3) No person shall fill the fuel tank of a school bus while the bus is occupied by passengers.
(4) The driver shall keep all signs and lights on the school bus free of dirt, mud, snow and ice to the extent that driving conditions at the relevant time permit and require.
Discipline and Sanitation
(1) The driver of a school bus shall not permit any passenger to stand while the bus is in motion.
(2) The owner and driver of a school bus shall ensure that the bus is not operated unless it is in a clean and sanitary condition.
(3) No driver or passenger shall, and no driver shall permit any passenger to, drink or be under the influence of an intoxicating liquor, or smoke or use tobacco in any form on a school bus.
(4) The driver shall be responsible for maintaining discipline while passengers are entering, leaving and riding on the school bus.
Miscellaneous
Notwithstanding anything in these regulations, the Registrar may exempt any school bus from any of the provisions of sections 3 to 9 subject to such conditions as the Registrar may stipulate, but no exemption shall relieve any person from any of the requirements of the Act.
SCHEDULE
Repealed, R-097-2005,s.3.
ANNEXE
Abrogée, R-097-2005, art. 3.
SCHEDULE B (Subsection 3(1))
SCHOOL BUS MECHANICAL INSPECTION CERTIFICATE
IT IS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROCURE THIS CERTIFICATE
DATE ..............................
Owner ...............................................
Address..............................................
Licence No. ..........................................
School Division .......................................
MAKE YEAR SERIAL NUMBER MILEAGE
NEED
ITEMS O.K. REPAIR REPAIRED REPLACED REMARKS
STEERING ASSEMBLY FOR WEAR
LINKAGE FOR WEAR
KING PIN-BUSHINGS
CONTROL ARM
CLUTCH ADJUSTMENT
BRAKE-PEDAL TRAVEL
HAND BRAKES
HYDRAULIC SYSTEM
LINING CONDITION
WHEEL DRUM CONDITION
WHEEL BEARINGS
WHEEL ALIGNMENT
UNIVERSAL JOINTS
EXHAUST SYSTEM
FAN BELTS
CONDITION OF TIRES
HEADLIGHTS
WINDSHIELD AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS MECHANIC: I CERTIFY THAT THE CONDITION OF THE ITEMS LISTED ABOVE IS TRUE AS INDICATED AND
THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY CHECKED THIS VEHICLE.
............................................. ............................................. (certificate of proficiency) (signature of mechanic)
OWNER: I CERTIFY THAT THE VEHICLE DESCRIBED ABOVE HAS BEEN MECHANICALLY INSPECTED AND
THAT THE ITEMS REQUIRING REPAIR HAVE BEEN REPLACED OR REPAIRED.
............................................. ............................................. (signature of owner or representative of owner) (title)
TO BE PLACED IN THE BUS AND PRODUCED WHEN REQUIRED
MÉCANICIEN : J'ATTESTE LA VÉRACITÉ DE CETTE INSPECTION
VÉHICULE.
............................................. (certificat de compétence)
PROPRIÉTAIRE : J'ATTESTE QUE LE VÉHICULE CI-DESSUS
ÉLÉMENTS NÉCESSITANT DES RÉPARATIONS
............................................. (Signature du propriétaire ou son représentant)
À ÊTRE PLACÉ DANS L'AUTOBUS
SCHEDULE
SURNAME(S) OF REGISTERED OWNER(S) FIRST NAME(S)
ADDRESS
NAME YEAR SERIAL
BODY MAKE BODY SERIAL
NOT GENERAL NOT
O.K. O.K.
Windshield(s)
Mirror (Inside)
Mirror (Outside)
Windshield Wipers Windows
Interior Lights
Defrosting Unit Seats - Condition
Item
Rear Door - Signs
- Latches
- Fitting
SAFETY ITEMS - Buzzer
Axe and Pry Bar Sanitation Inside
Fire Extinguisher Entrance Door - Fit
ANNEXE
AUTOBUS SCOLAIRE
NOM(S) DU(DES) PROPRIÉTAIRE(S) PRÉNOM(S)
ADRESSE
NOM ANNÉE NUMÉRO
CAROSSERIE NO DE SÉRIE
NON GÉNÉRAL NON
EN EN
RÈGLE RÈGLE pare-brise
rétroviseur
rétroviseur extérieur
essuie-glace fenêtres
lumière (intérieur)
système de dégivrage sièges - état
article
porte arrière - panneau
- verrou
ÉLÉMENTS DE - pièces
SÉCURITÉ - sonnerie
hache et barre propreté (intérieur)
extincteur porte avant - fermeture
First Aid Kit - Rubber Flares and Flags - Glass
WARNING: Items marked "NOT O.K." are to be repaired without delay. local office shown below, within . . . . . . . . . . DAYS of issue of this ticket.
REMARKS:
RETURN TO:
BUS trousse de premiers - caoutchouc soins fusées et drapeaux - verre
MISE EN GARDE : Les éléments qui sont cochés NON EN RÈGLE doivent exploitant, doit être retourné au bureau local indiqué au bas de la présente
REMARQUES :
ENVOYER À :
PERMIS
SCHEDULE D
FIRST AID ITEMS
1. A first aid kit shall be enclosed in a waterproof and dust-proof receptacle and shall contain the following minimum supplies: (a) a first aid manual of the current edition published by the St. John Ambulance Society; (b) 12 safety-pins; (c) one pair of splinter tweezers; (d) one pair of scissors at least 10 cm in length; (e) the following dressings, each item to be individually wrapped to maintain sterility: (i) three sterile 10 cm by 10 cm bandage compresses, (ii) 16 sterile 75 mm by 75 mm pads of the Army field dressing type with tails, (iii) 32 sterile 25 mm adhesive dressings, (iv) two sterile 1 m² gauze compresses, (v) three 100 cm dar bandages, (vi) five m of tubular finger bandages with applicator, (vii) 2.5 cm by 5 m adhesive tape; (f) an accepted antiseptic.
Territorial Printer, Northwest Territories Yellowknife, N.W.T./2005©