Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 570 - RULES OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY › Chapter 570-30 - PUBLIC SCHOOL BUS INSPECTION › Rule 570-30-.10 - Body

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1) All public school
			 buses shall be inspected annually or at the discretion of the Commissioner by
			 employees of the Department of Public Safety.
(2) Each public school bus shall be inspected
			 for:
(a) Front and rear sign containing the
			 words "School Bus" in letters not less than eight inches (8") in
			 height.
(b) Every bus used for
			 transporting school children shall be painted National School Bus Chrome
			 Yellow.
(c) Have an emergency door
			 located either at the rear of the body or at the side of the body opposite from
			 the side on which the students normally board. Said door shall be operative
			 from both the interior and exterior of the bus at all times.
1. The emergency door shall be equipped with
			 a slide-bar cam-operated lock. The slide bar shall have a minimum stroke of 1
			 inch. The emergency door shall be equipped with a suitable electric
			 plunger-type switch and with buzzers located in the driver's compartment. The
			 switch shall be enclosed and the wires leading from the switch shall be
			 concealed in the body. The switch shall be installed so that the plunger of the
			 switch contacts the farthest edge of the slide bar in such a manner that a
			 slight movement of the slide bar will immediately close the switch and activate
			 the buzzer.
2. The door lock shall
			 be equipped with an interior handle that extends approximately to the center of
			 the emergency door. It shall lift up to release the lock.
(d) The driver's seat shall be equipped with
			 a seat belt.
(e) Combination
			 clearance and marker lights shall be installed at each of the four roof
			 corners. The two front lights shall be amber in color and the two rear lights
			 shall be red in color. A cluster of three clearance and marker lights in the
			 front and rear of the bus at the roof line is required.
(f) The body of said buses shall be equipped
			 with four hooded or recessed red flasher or four red flasher lamps and four
			 amber flasher lamps mounted on the same horizontal centerline. The system shall
			 be wired so that the amber signal lamps are activated only by manual or foot
			 operation and if activated are automatically deactivated and the red signal
			 lamps activated when the bus entrance door is opened.
(g) There shall be installed on the left
			 outside of the body a stop-arm to give notice to drivers of other vehicles that
			 the bus is making a stop.
(h) The
			 exhaust system of said buses shall carry exhaust gases from the engine to the
			 discharge point into the atmosphere which shall be beyond the rear wheels and
			 extended to a point as follows:
1. When
			 exhaust is discharged on the side of vehicle, the discharge point shall be at
			 or beyond the outermost flange of the body at the side of such
			 vehicle;
2. When exhaust is
			 discharged at the rear of the vehicle, the discharge point shall be at or
			 beyond the rear bumper of such vehicle.
(i) All floor joints of such buses shall be
			 gas tight and constructed so as to prevent the entry of engine exhaust gases
			 into the passenger compartment. Any opening or separation of joints in the
			 floor shall be repaired before the bus is used for transportation of
			 children.
(j) Exterior Mirror. Two
			 exterior clear-view, rear view mirrors shall be mounted forward, one to the
			 left and one to the right of the driver. Area of each mirror shall be not less
			 than 50 square inches overall. Each mirror shall be firmly supported and
			 adjustable to give the driver a clear view past the left rear and right rear of
			 the bus.
1. Two exterior convex type mirrors
			 shall be mounted forward, one to the left and one to the right of the driver.
			 Each mirror shall be a minimum of 6 x 6 inches overall, rectangular in shape
			 and shall have a minimum 21 inch to a maximum 30 inch radius of curvature on
			 the convex. Each mirror shall be firmly supported and adjustable to give the
			 driver a clear view of the left rear wheels and the immediate adjacent area and
			 the right wheels and the immediate adjacent area.
(k) An 8" convex cross-view mirror shall be
			 mounted on the left fender so that the driver shall have a view directly in
			 front of the bus. The mirror shall have a minimum of 7 1/2 inches of
			 exposed mirror surface. The case containing the mirror shall be so constructed
			 that the mirror may be replaced.
1. Exception:
			 Transit buses shall have 8" convex cross-view mirror mounted on the right
			 side.
(l) Interior
			 Mirror. One rear view non-glare mirror 6 inches x 30 inches in size, having a
			 metal frame and back to be securely attached on the windshield header and so
			 located as to give the driver a clear view of the entire interior of the bus
			 and road behind.
(m) Horn. Every
			 school bus shall be equipped with a horn capable of emitting a sound which,
			 under normal conditions, shall be audible from a distance of 200
			 feet.
(n) Radio Speakers. No bus
			 shall have radio speakers used for music or entertainment forward of a line
			 five (5) feet from the rear of the driver's seat. Existing speakers in this
			 area shall be permanently disabled. This prohibition does not apply to speakers
			 used for communications purposes.