Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-911.7

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 5, September 4, 2024

Rule 761-911.7 - Vehicle standards

The following standards apply to regional transit system vehicles assigned to provide school transportation service:

(1)Vehicle construction.

a. Each vehicle must be constructed in compliance with the federal motor vehicle safety standards for that type of vehicle as set forth in 49 CFR Part 571. The capacity rating of automobiles and multipurpose vehicles shall not be modified or altered in any way except by the original manufacturer.

b. Each bus in use must also comply with the following federal motor vehicle safety standards:

(1) Standard No. 217, Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release. Buses utilized for school transportation shall incorporate a rear emergency exit door in meeting this standard.

(2) Standard No. 220, School Bus Rollover Protection.

(3) Standard No. 221, School Bus Body Joint Strength.

(4) Standard No. 301, Fuel System Integrity.

(2)Passenger restraint/protection. Each automobile, multipurpose vehicle or school bus must provide passenger restraint/protection devices as required for that type of vehicle in the federal motor vehicle safety standards. Each bus must meet the standards listed in either "a" through "f" below or "g" below:

a. Standard No. 207, Seating Systems.

b. Standard No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection.

c. Standard No. 209, Seat Belt Assemblies.

d. Standard No. 210, Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages.

e. Standard No. 213, Child Restraint Systems.

f. Standard No. 225, Child Restraint Anchorage Systems.

g. Standard No. 222, School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection.

(3)Accessibility for persons with disabilities. Each vehicle used for students with disabilities must comply with all applicable provisions of 49 CFR Part 38.

(4)Signage. A vehicle must not be signed as a school bus.

(5)Department of education inspection. Every vehicle must be inspected twice annually by the department of education school bus inspectors and officers of the Iowa state patrol to determine if the vehicle meets all vehicle standards set forth in this chapter.

The department of education will notify each regional transit system of the dates and locations of scheduled inspections. Inspections must be documented on a form prescribed jointly by the departments of transportation and education.

(6)Transfer to another public transit system. When a public transit system purchases a used vehicle from another public transit system, the previous owner's department of education's bus inspections stickers must be removed. If the purchasing public transit system plans to use the vehicle for school transportation service, a new inspection must be performed on the vehicle.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-911.7

Amended by IAB March 14, 2018/Volume XL, Number 19, effective 4/18/2018