Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 37, September 14, 2024
(a)General rule. (1) Unless otherwise provided for by this section, a school bus must be equipped with a chassis brake system which conforms with the provisions of FMVSS No. 105, No. 106 and No. 121, as applicable.(2) The antilock brake system (ABS), provided in accordance with FMVSS No. 105 or No. 121, shall provide wheel speed sensors for each front wheel and for each wheel on at least one rear axle. The system shall provide antilock braking performance for each wheel equipped with sensors.(3) Brake systems shall be designed to permit visual inspection of brake lining wear without removal of any chassis components.(4) The brake lines, booster-assist lines and control cables shall be protected from excessive heat, vibration and corrosion and installed in a manner which prevents chafing.(5) The parking brake system for either air or hydraulic service brake systems may be of a power assisted design. The power parking brake actuator shall be a push-pull device located on the instrument panel within seated reach of a 5th percentile female driver. As an option, the parking brake may be set by placing the automatic transmission shift control mechanism in the "park" position.(6) The power-operated parking brake system may be interlocked to the engine key switch so that once the parking brake has been set and the ignition switch turned to the "off" position, the parking brake cannot be released until the key switch is turned back to the "on" position.(b)Hydraulic brakes. A bus using a hydraulic-assist brake shall be equipped with audible and visible warning signals that provide a continuous warning to the driver of a loss of fluid flow from the primary source and of a failure of the back-up pump system.(c)Air brakes. A bus equipped with air brakes shall conform to the following: (1) The air pressure supply system shall include a desiccant-type air dryer installed according to the manufacturers' recommendations. The air pressure storage tank system may incorporate an automatic drain valve.(2) The dashboard instrument panel of a bus equipped with an air brake system shall include an air pressure gauge of a type allowing the driver to comply with CDL pretrip inspection requirements.(3) An air brake shall have both a visible and audible warning device whenever the air pressure falls below the level where warnings are required under FMVSS No. 121.The provisions of this §171.14 adopted August 12, 1977, effective 8/13/1977, 7 Pa.B. 2255; amended August 4, 1978, effective 7/1/1979, 8 Pa.B. 2194; amended August 19, 1983, effective 8/20/1983, 13 Pa.B. 2561; readopted December 4, 1987, effective 12/5/1987, 17 Pa.B. 5052; amended September 13, 1996, effective 9/14/1996, 26 Pa.B. 4411; amended May 20, 2005, effective 5/21/2005, 35 Pa.B. 3039.The provisions of this §171.14 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 4103, 4551-4553 and 6103.