Pennsylvania Code › Title 67 - TRANSPORTATION › Part I - Department of Transportation › Subpart A - Vehicle Code Provisions › Article VII - Vehicle Characteristics › Chapter 171 - SCHOOL BUSES AND SCHOOL VEHICLES › Subchapter A - GENERAL PROVISIONS › Section 171.2 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
The following words and terms, when used in this
						  chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
						  otherwise:
Bus
-A motor vehicle designed to
						  transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; or a motor vehicle,
						  other than a taxicab or limousine, designed to transport not more than 15
						  passengers, including the driver, and used for the transportation of persons
						  for compensation. The term does not include a vehicle used in a ridesharing
						  arrangement, as defined in the act of December 14, 1982 (P. L. 1211, No. 279)
						  (55
						  P. S. §§
													695.1-695.9), which
						  provides for ridesharing arrangements and provides that certain laws are
						  inapplicable to ridesharing arrangements, or a school bus.
Converted school bus
-A vehicle not
						  originally manufactured to be a school bus.
Convex mirror
-A mirror having a curved
						  reflective surface whose shape is the same as that of the exterior surface of a
						  section of a sphere.
Department
-The Department of
						  Transportation of the Commonwealth.
Designated seating position
-Under
						  49 CFR
						  571.3 (relating to definitions), a plain view
						  location capable of accommodating a person at least as large as a 5th
						  percentile adult female, if the overall seat configuration and vehicle design
						  is of a type that the position is likely to be used as a seating position while
						  the vehicle is in motion, except for auxiliary seating accommodations such as
						  temporary or folding jump seats. A bench or split bench seat in a passenger
						  car, truck or multipurpose passenger vehicle with a GVWR less than 10,000
						  pounds, having greater than 50 inches of hip room (measured in accordance with
						  SAE Standard J1100(a)-See Appendix A) may not have less than three designated
						  seating positions, unless the seat design or vehicle design is of a type that
						  the center position cannot be used for seating.
FMVSS
-Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
						  Standards published in the
Code of Federal Regulations
.
Forward control
-A configuration in
						  which more than half of the engine length is rearward of the foremost point of
						  the windshield base and the steering wheel hub is in the forward quarter of the
						  vehicle length.
GVWR-Gross vehicle weight rating
-The
						  value specified on the Federal weight certification label by the manufacturer
						  as the loaded weight of a single vehicle.
Insignia
-Any identification statement,
						  symbol, figure, logo or distinguishing sign, name or mark.
Mass transit pupil transportation
						  bus
-A bus, other than a school bus, that is operated by an urban mass
						  transportation system and used exclusively for the transportation of children
						  to and from school and school-related activities, even if used for other
						  transportation purposes at other times.
Multifunction school activity bus
-A
						  school bus used to transport students on field trips, athletic trips or other
						  curricular or extracurricular activities, but not used for to-and-from school
						  transportation.
Pupil Transportation Section
-The Pupil
						  Transportation Section of the Bureau of Driver Licensing of the
						  Department.
SAE
-The Society of Automotive
						  Engineers.
School
-An institution for the
						  education or training of children, including but not limited to kindergartens,
						  rehabilitation centers, day care centers, Head Start centers, group day care
						  homes, family day care homes and summer camps.
School bus
-A motor vehicle designed to
						  carry 11 passengers or more, including the driver, and used for the
						  transportation of preprimary, primary or secondary school students to or from
						  public, private or parochial schools or events related to these schools or
						  school-related activities. The types of school buses are as follows:
(i)
Type A school bus
. A
						school bus converted from or having a body constructed upon a van-type truck or
						front-section vehicle chassis, with a left side driver's door and the entrance
						doors behind the front wheels. This definition includes two classifications:
						Type A1, with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) less than or equal to 10,000
						pounds; and Type A2, with a GVWR greater than 10,000 pounds.
(ii)
Type B school bus
. A
						school bus constructed utilizing a stripped chassis, with the entrance door
						behind the front wheels. This definition includes two classifications: Type B1,
						with a GVWR less than or equal to 10,000 pounds; and Type B2, with a GVWR
						greater than 10,000 pounds.
(iii)
Type C school bus
. A school bus constructed utilizing a
						chassis with a hood and front fender assembly without a left side driver's door
						and with the entrance door behind the front wheels.
(iv)
Type D school bus
. A
						school bus constructed utilizing a stripped chassis with the entrance door
						ahead of the front wheels.
School vehicle
-A motor vehicle, except
						  a motorcycle, designed for carrying no more than ten passengers, including the
						  driver, and used for the transportation of preprimary, primary or secondary
						  school students while registered by or under contract to a school district or
						  private or parochial school. The term includes vehicles having chartered, group
						  and party rights under the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and used for
						  the transportation of school children.
Specially equipped school bus
-A school
						  bus used to transport children which, in addition to meeting the requirements
						  for school buses as described in this chapter, contains special equipment as
						  required in Subchapter D (relating to additional standards for specially
						  equipped school buses and school vehicles).
Stop signal arm
-A device that can be
						  extended outward from the side of the school bus to provide a signal to other
						  motorists not to pass because the bus has stopped to load and discharge
						  passengers.
Type 2 seat belt assembly
-A
						  combination of pelvic and upper torso restraints.
Unit magnification mirror
-A plane or
						  flat mirror with a reflective surface through which the angular height and
						  width of the image of an object is equal to the angular height and width of the
						  object when viewed directly at the same distance except for flaws that do not
						  exceed normal manufacturing tolerances.
Upper torso restraint
-A portion of a
						  seatbelt assembly intended to restrain movement of the chest and shoulder
						  regions.
The provisions of this §
														171.2 amended under Vehicle
							 Code,