Ariz. Admin. Code § R13-13-104 - Minimum Standards for School Bus Operation

A. A school bus driver shall perform operations checks of a school bus as required by R13-13-108.

B. Loading or unloading of passengers:

1. As of February 16, 1996, an eight-lamp system as described in R13-13-107(17) shall be installed on a school bus before it is introduced into Arizona. When preparing to stop a school bus on a street or highway, the school bus driver shall activate the alternately flashing amber lamps of an eight-lamp system or the alternately flashing red lamps of a four-lamp system for a minimum distance of 100 feet, in accordance with A.R.S. § 28-930(B). Whenever the school bus is stopped on a street or highway to load or unload passengers, the school bus driver shall deactivate the alternately flashing amber lamps and activate the alternately flashing red lamps of an eight-lamp system, and extend the stop arm and open the service door.

2. When a school bus driver stops the school bus to load or unload passengers, the school bus driver shall set the parking brake and place the transmission in neutral.

3. The distance between stops for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers shall be no less than 600 feet, unless the school determines that more frequent stops are necessary for safety. The school bus driver shall stop the school bus as near the right edge of the traveled portion of the street or highway as possible.

4. A school bus driver shall not load or unload passengers on the traffic side of the bus.

5. When a school bus driver loads or unloads passengers who must cross a street or highway at a location other than an intersection, the passengers shall cross at least 10 feet in front of the front bumper of the school bus. The school bus driver shall not permit passengers who must cross a street or highway to be unloaded from the school bus until all traffic to the front and rear of the school bus is stopped. The school bus driver shall not move the school bus until all passengers have crossed the street or highway.

6. In intersections that use lighted traffic control signals, a school bus driver shall load or unload passengers no closer than 100 feet of the traffic control signal so the passengers may cross with the traffic control signal, either before or after the school bus proceeds.

7. In intersections without lighted traffic control signals, a school bus driver shall load or unload passengers no closer than 50 feet of the intersection so the passengers may cross at the intersection, either before or after the school bus proceeds.

8. A school bus driver shall not stop a school bus on an interstate highway for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers, except that:

a. A school bus stop may be established on a frontage road that parallels an interstate highway if no passenger is allowed to cross a divided highway.

b. A school bus may stop in a safety rest area as defined by A.R.S. § 28-7901(8) that is part of or adjacent to an interstate highway.

9. A school bus driver shall load or unload passengers on school grounds only in an area designated by the school and marked with a sign as a school bus loading area.

10. During loading or unloading of passengers at a designated school bus loading area at a school, the school shall restrict the loading area to school buses, passengers, and school employees assisting in the loading or unloading of passengers.

11. A school shall allow passengers in a designated school bus loading area only when the passengers are being loaded on or unloaded from a school bus.

12. A school shall designate all school bus loading areas at locations that prevent backing of the school bus.

13. In areas at a school not designated as a school bus loading area, a school bus driver shall not back upon or adjacent to the school grounds unless an individual authorized by the school bus driver directs the backing procedure while standing at the rear of the school bus in a position visible to the school bus driver. This provision does not apply to a school bus garage or school bus storage area where passengers are not allowed.

14. Immediately before a school bus driver engages in backing a school bus, the school bus driver shall sound the horn to warn motorists and pedestrians of the backing procedure. This provision does not apply if the school bus is equipped with an alarm that operates automatically when the school bus is backing.

15. In addition to the requirements for railroad grade crossings contained in A.R.S. § 28-853, a school bus driver shall comply with the following:

a. Use hazard warning lights as described in A.R.S. § 28-947(D) within a minimum of 100 feet of a railroad grade crossing to warn motorists of an intended stop.

b. Shut off any radio, compact-disc player, and other source of sound within 50 feet of a railroad grade crossing.

c. Stop the school bus, with or without passengers aboard, at a railroad grade crossing when traffic at the railroad grade crossing is not directed by a police officer.

d. While stopped at a railroad grade crossing at which traffic is not directed by a police officer, activate the noise suppression switch, completely open the service door and the window to the left of the driver and, by hearing and sight, determine that it is safe to cross. Before proceeding, close the service door. Deactivate the noise suppression switch after crossing the tracks.

e. Do not stop to load or unload passengers within 200 feet of a railroad grade crossing. This provision does not prohibit stops at a railroad station or on a highway that parallels the railroad tracks.

16. When a school bus driver loads a wheelchair passenger on a school bus, the school bus driver shall secure both the wheelchair and the wheelchair passenger using the systems described in R13-13-105(E).

C. An employer shall not allow or require a school bus driver to drive a school bus nor shall a school bus driver drive a school bus:

1. For more than 10 hours after having been off-duty for a minimum of eight consecutive hours;

2. For any period after having been on-duty for 15 hours after having been off-duty for a minimum of eight consecutive hours;

3. After having been on-duty 60 hours in any seven consecutive days if the employer does not operate school buses for seven consecutive days; or

4. After having been on-duty 70 hours in any eight consecutive days if the employer operates school buses every day of the week.

D. Other requirements:

1. A school bus driver shall wear a seat belt whenever the school bus is in motion.

2. While operating a school bus, a school bus driver shall wear closed-toe, closed-heel shoes that will not interfere with driving the school bus safely or performing other duties of the school bus driver.

3. A school bus driver shall comply with all state traffic laws while operating a school bus except that the school bus driver shall not exceed 65 miles per hour or the posted speed limit, whichever is less, when operating the school bus on an interstate highway.

4. Any person boarding or attempting to board a school bus, whether or not a passenger, shall comply with all instructions given by a school bus driver. If a passenger or a non-passenger boards or attempts to board a school bus and refuses to comply with the school bus driver's instructions, the school bus driver may seek emergency assistance to remove the passenger or non-passenger from the school bus, or prevent the passenger or non-passenger from boarding.

5. All passengers shall sit with their backs against the seat backs, their legs facing towards the front of the school bus, and all parts of their bodies clear of all aisles whenever the school bus is in motion.

6. A school bus driver shall not transport in a school bus more passengers than the rated capacity stated by the school bus manufacturer.

7. A school bus driver shall close the service doors of a school bus before operating the school bus. The service doors shall remain closed whenever the school bus is in motion.

8. A school bus driver shall not place the transmission in neutral or coast with the clutch disengaged on a downhill grade.

9. The driver of a school bus equipped with a two-speed axle shall not shift the axle while descending any hill posted with grade warning signs.

10. A school bus driver shall ensure that a school bus is not fueled in a closed building, while the school bus engine is running or while passengers are on board.

11. A school bus driver or passenger shall not use tobacco in any form on a school bus.

12. A school bus driver shall not carry on a school bus or consume any beverage containing any alcohol while on-duty with the employer or within eight hours before going on-duty with the employer.

13. A school bus driver shall not eat or drink on a school bus unless the school bus is completely stopped.

14. A school bus driver shall not at any time carry on a school bus or use a controlled substance.

15. A passenger shall not carry on a school bus or consume while being transported in a school bus, any beverage containing any alcohol.

16. A passenger shall not carry on a school bus or consume while being transported in a school bus, any dangerous or narcotic drug, as defined in A.R.S. § 13-3401, unless:

a. A medical practitioner authorized by the state to write a prescription for the dangerous or narcotic drug has prescribed the dangerous or narcotic drug for the passenger who is carrying or consuming it;

b. The school district governing board establishes written policies and procedures regarding the administration of a dangerous or narcotic drug by a trained district employee to a passenger who is being transported in a school bus; and

c. The parent or legal guardian of a passenger to whom a dangerous or narcotic drug is administered while being transported in a school bus provides prior written authorization for the dangerous or narcotic drug to be administered to the passenger by a trained district employee.

17. A school bus driver shall not assume responsibility for transporting any medication, whether prescription or over-the-counter, that belongs to a passenger.

18. A school bus driver shall not transport animals, insects, or reptiles in a school bus with the exception of service animals, as defined at A.R.S. § 11-1024(J), which assist disabled passengers.

19. Except for eyeglasses, a passenger or school bus driver shall not carry or transport glass objects on a school bus.

20. A school bus driver or passenger shall not carry on or transport in a school bus an explosive device, gun, knife, or other weapon as defined by school-district policy.

21. A passenger shall not place any part of the passenger's body out of a school bus window or door except when exiting the school bus.

22. When instruments or equipment related to musical or athletic events are transported on a school bus, the school bus driver shall transport them as follows:

a. Instruments or equipment shall not occupy seating space if needed for a passenger,

b. Instruments or equipment shall not be placed in the school bus driver's compartment or step-well of the school bus,

c. Instruments or equipment shall be under the passenger's control at all times or secured in the school bus, and

d. Instruments or equipment shall not block an aisle or emergency exit of the school bus at any time.

23. A passenger who carries onto a school bus an object other than an instrument or equipment related to musical or athletic events shall control the object at all times or secure the object in the school bus. If the passenger is not able to control or secure the object in the school bus, the passenger shall not carry the object onto the school bus.

24. A school bus driver shall ensure that all objects inside the school bus are under a passenger's control or secured in a manner that prevents the objects from causing physical injury to others or affecting the safe operation of the school bus.

25. A school bus driver shall not drive a school bus with a trailer or other vehicle attached to the school bus.

26. A school bus driver shall stop the school bus and check the wheels and tires for wear, damage, and inflation after every two continuous hours of driving.

27. All school buses shall have and school bus drivers shall use a two-way voice communication system. The two-way voice communication system shall only be used to assist the school bus driver with passenger transportation.

28. Except as provided in subsection (D)(27), a school bus driver shall not use audio headsets, earphones, earplugs, Bluetooth devices, cellular phones, personal digital assistants, or other interactive wireless devices, whether or not hands-free, when the school bus is in operation.

29. Except when complying with R13-13-108(D), if a school bus driver leaves the driver's compartment, the school bus driver shall set the parking-brake system, place a standard transmission in either first or reverse gear, place an automatic transmission in park or neutral, and turn off the ignition and remove the ignition key from an ignition that uses a key, or set the ignition power-deactivation switch of an ignition that does not use a key.

30. Each time a school bus driver unloads passengers and it appears that no passengers remain on the school bus, the school bus driver shall inspect the interior of the school bus for passengers remaining and objects left on the school bus. If the school bus is equipped with a child alert notification system as described in R13-13-106(6), the school bus driver shall complete all procedures required by the child alert notification system, in addition to the school bus driver's inspection of the interior of the school bus.

31. At least twice during every school year, a school shall conduct an evacuation drill of a school bus at the school that includes every passenger who rides a school bus and is in school on the day of the evacuation drill. At least 14 days before an evacuation drill, a school shall submit to the Department a written notice stating the date, time, and location of the evacuation drill. Each school bus driver shall participate in a minimum of two evacuation drills during every school year. Evacuation drills shall include:

a. Practice and instruction in the location, use, and operation of the emergency exits, fire extinguishers, first aid equipment, windows as a means of escape, and communication systems;

b. Practice and instruction in when and how to approach, load, unload, and move away from the school bus a minimum of 100 feet;

c. Instructions on how weather-related hazards affect emergency procedures; and

d. Instructions on the importance of orderly conduct.

32. A white, flashing, strobe lamp as described in R13-13-107(17)(f) may be used only during conditions that produce low visibility or that are hazardous.

33. An owner shall ensure that no lock, except as provided in R13-13-107(10)(h), is installed on any school bus emergency exit or service door.

34. A school bus driver shall ensure that nothing obstructs or interferes with the use of any school bus emergency exit or service door.

35. A school bus driver, passenger, or school administrator shall immediately report to the employer any violation of these rules or state statutes that the school bus driver, passenger, or school administrator reasonably believes threatens the health, safety, or welfare of a passenger.

E. Reports and recordkeeping:

1. Immediately following any accident involving a school bus, the school bus driver shall report the accident to the employer.

2. Immediately upon receiving notification of any accident involving a school bus, the employer shall notify the Department of the accident by telephone. The employer shall submit written verification of the accident to the Department within 72 hours of the telephone notification.

3. Immediately upon becoming aware of a violation of these rules or state statutes that a reasonable person could conclude caused injury to or threatened the health, safety, or welfare of a passenger, the employer shall notify the Department of the violation by telephone. The employer shall submit a written report of the violation to the Department within 72 hours of the telephone notification.

4. No later than 14 days after an evacuation drill, a school district shall submit to the Department a written report of the evacuation drill identifying the school district, participating school, date, and number of participants.

5. From the date on which a record is created, the employer shall maintain for three years the following written records for each school bus driver:

a. On a daily basis, the period of time each school bus driver is on-duty for the employer including the date, each start and quit time, and the total number of hours on-duty for the employer.

b. On a daily basis, the total number of hours on-duty for an entity other than the employer during the previous seven days.

6. A school bus driver who performs any compensated work for an entity other than the employer shall provide the employer, in writing, the name and telephone number of the entity and the number of hours the school bus driver works each day for the entity.

7. A school bus driver who receives a citation, whether on-duty or off-duty, shall immediately inform the employer by telephone about the citation and shall submit a copy of the citation to the employer within five days.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R13-13-104

Adopted effective February 16, 1996 (Supp. 96-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 7 A.A.R. 2906, effective June 13, 2001 (Supp. 01-2). Amended by final rulemak-ing at 11 A.A.R. 557, effective March 5, 2005 (Supp. 05-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 14 A.A.R. 2110, effective May 8, 2008 (Supp. 08-2). New Section R13-13-104 recodified from R17-9-104 with Section cross-references revised, at 20 A.A.R. 2083, effective July 25, 2014 (Supp. 14-3).