Are school buses of less than 15 passenger capacity required to stop at grade crossings?

[88gta350]

The title says it all. I know vehicles with a capacity of 15 or more are required to stop, but are all buses (i.e. the short bus or van) required to stop even when less than 15 passengers?

[vsmith]

They do out here, doesnt matter how short the bus is, all public school, private school, even some private commuter pool vans are required to stop at crossings.

[88gta350]

is that a local/state law where you are, or is that a requirement everywhere like the 15+ passenger/haz-mat requirements?

[vsmith]

I beleive its state law here in Kalifoonia!

[tree68]

If it's yellow and says "School Bus," it's a school bus and must abide. You'll usually find 15+ passenger vans used for school functions stopping, too, even if they don't say "school bus." I think you'll usually see "for hire" passenger vehicles (ie, buses) larger than limosines stopping.

[Anonymous]

In Wisconsin ALL buses must stop. Many buses for the "challenged" students are of the 15 passenger or less variety. I have also been on tours away from home in small caaches and they have all stopped at rail crossings.

[richardy]

In Oklahoma all buses must stop, it is a state law.

[Junctionfan]

They do in Canada. All buses either small or large have to yield for the crossing before going over it. It is a safety precaution mostly because of the children.

[88gta350]

These "busses" are actually vans that have a yellow, magnetic placard on them that says "School Students." None of them would be over 15 passenger capacity. I'm not sure if they're privately owned by individuals who work for the district, or if they are district owned/rented. Around here they are used for the small groups of kids that live in an area not served by regular busses... i.e. rural kids. It should be easy enough to find out who owns them. Are these "busses" required to stop?

[locomutt]

It's a state law here in Ky.,for all buses to stop,no matter the size.
However,I was under the impression (probably mistaken) THAT ALL
Vehicles were required to "Stop Look & Listen"

[Anonymous]

even the "Septran" busses, basically a chevy Subrban that carries in need kids to special schools have to stop and look here. If it's a government backed public transportation system, it must stop at all crossings and check.

[JoeKoh]

All school vehicles bus van car or truck are required to stop at all rr crossings here in ohio.
stay safe
Joe

[mloik]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

even some private commuter pool vans are required to stop at crossings.

I commute on one of the University of California van pools (15 passenger van), and we're not required to stop. We go over two separate crossings each way.

[88gta350]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mloik

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

even some private commuter pool vans are required to stop at crossings.

I commute on one of the University of California van pools (15 passenger van), and we're not required to stop. We go over two separate crossings each way.

If you're a 15 passenger van, you should be required to stop. I thought all vehicles with a capacity of 15 or more were required?

[ChuckCobleigh]

In California, a passenger vehicle designed with a capacity of 15 or more (10 or more if transporting for hire or used by any nonprofit organization or group) is a bus required to stop at RR crossings. The same CVC section defining bus also states: "A vanpool vehicle is not a bus." That's why mloik's vanpool van is not stopping before crossing.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 88gta350

The title says it all. I know vehicles with a capacity of 15 or more are required to stop, but are all buses (i.e. the short bus or van) required to stop even when less than 15 passengers?

Although the federal government applies pressure to conform some motor vehicle code throughout the country, the answer to your question can only be answered for the state, county and city which you live.

Jim - Lawton, NV MP 236

[88gta350]

I managed to find PA's vehicle code on the web... here's their requirements for which vehicls must stop. It's not much help:


§ 3342. Vehicles required to stop at railroad crossings.
(a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (c), the driver of any vehicle described in subsection (b), before crossing at grade any track or tracks of a railroad, shall stop the vehicle within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of the railroad crossing and while so stopped shall listen and look in both directions along the track for any approaching train, and for signals indicating the approach of a train. When it is safe to do so, the driver of the vehicle shall drive the vehicle across the tracks only in such gear of the vehicle that there will be no necessity for manually changing gears while traversing the crossing. The driver shall not manually shift gears while crossing the track or tracks.
(b) Vehicles subject to stopping requirement.--This section shall apply to the following
vehicles:
(1) Any vehicle designated by the department in accordance with the provisions of
subsection (d).
(2) A school bus, whether or not carrying passengers.
(3) Every truck and tractor combination which carries gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, explosives or radioactive materials.
(c) Exceptions.--This section does not apply at any of the following:
(1) Any railroad grade crossing at which traffic is controlled by a police officer or flagman.
(2) Any railroad grade crossing at which traffic is regulated by a functioning
highway traffic-control signal transmitting a green indication for the direction of travel of the
vehicle.
(3) Any railroad grade crossing at which an official traffic-control device gives
notice that the stopping requirement imposed by this section does not apply.
(4) Any abandoned railroad grade crossing which is marked by the former rail
operator with a sign prescribed by the department indicating that the rail line is abandoned.
(5) An industrial or spur line railroad grade crossing marked with a sign reading
"exempt." Such a sign shall be erected only by or with the consent of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
(d) Notice of vehicles subject to section.--The department shall publish in the Pennsylvania Bulletin a notice describing the vehicles which must comply with the stopping requirements of this section. In developing the list of vehicles, the department shall give consideration to the hazardous nature of any substance carried by the vehicle as determined by the department and to the number of passengers carried by the vehicle in determining whether the vehicle shall be required to stop. This list of vehicles shall correlate with and so far as possible conform to the regulations of the United States Department of Transportation as amended from time to time.
(e) Use of vehicle hazard lights.--The driver of any vehicle mentioned in subsection (b)(2)
and (3) shall activate the vehicle hazard lights when stopping at the railroad crossing.
(f) Penalty.--A violation of this section constitutes a summary offense punishable by a fine of from $100 to $150, except that a violation of subsection (b) or (e) shall be punishable by a fine of from $200 to $500.
(July 9, 1986, P.L.544, No.96, eff. 60 days; Dec. 11, 1986, P.L.1530, No.166, eff. 60 days; Dec. 10, 1996, P.L.925, No.149, eff. 60 days; Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1126, No.151, eff. 60 days)
Cross References. Section 3342 is referred to in section 1535 of this title.


It seems to be the same as every other jurisdiction... stop, look, listen, no changing gears through crossing. It doesn't say anything about opening the door of a bus, and it doesn't define "school bus." Chapter 1 of the vehicle code, however, defines school bus and it does not appear to cover these vans with the stick-on signs. They appear to be defined as "school vehicles."

[Anonymous]

All school buses stop, open door, throw the 4 ways and look/listen then cross in a gear that will not stall.

Hazmat vehicles also.

You can have a Van hauling three kids painted Skool yellow and marked "School" they too must stop. If you can hang, paint, stick-on, install or otherwise mark a vehicle as a "School" bus in a contrasting color then that vehicle becomes a school bus.

[Anonymous]

West Virginia required ALL buses, be it school or commercial, to stop, open the front door, and look before proceeding. I remember this from my childhood in the '40s. The law may be changed since then.

California had required stopping for busses and hazardous cargo trucks at all railroad crossings unless there was a small sign under the crossbucks stating "Exempt XXXX" where XXXX is the section of the highway code regulating crossings. I do not remember the code cited so I used the XXXX designation today.

[Anonymous]

My mom drives a school bus and she said "At every crossing we are required to stop, turn on the tailgate flashers, look each way, turn tailgate flashers off, and then we can go over the tracks. No matter how many students are in the bus. But if on the RR x'ing sign it says Exempt, we do not have to stop."

[88gta350]

QUOTE: Originally posted by HighIron2003ar

All school buses stop, open door, throw the 4 ways and look/listen then cross in a gear that will not stall.

Hazmat vehicles also.

You can have a Van hauling three kids painted Skool yellow and marked "School" they too must stop. If you can hang, paint, stick-on, install or otherwise mark a vehicle as a "School" bus in a contrasting color then that vehicle becomes a school bus.

That's not quite true, at least not in Pennsylvania. Here are the definitions of the various school-related vehicles in PA, in lawyer speak. Notice the law quoted above only requires "school buses" to stop. Notice "school bus" is only defined as 11 or more passengers, but not busses of 11-15 passengers registered before 1993. Anything less than 11 passengers is a "school vehicle", and by the law quoted above is not required to stop at grade crossings.

"School bus." A motor vehicle which:
(1) is designed to carry 11 passengers or more, including the driver; and
(2) is used for the transportation of preprimary, primary or secondary school students to or from public, private or parochial schools or events related to such schools or
school-related activities.
The term does not include a motor vehicle used to transport preprimary, primary or secondary school students to or from public, private or parochial schools or events related to such schools or schoolrelated activities, which is designed to carry 11 to 15 passengers, including the driver, and which is registered in this Commonwealth as a bus prior to March 1, 1993, or a motor vehicle which is designed to carry 11 to 15 passengers, including the driver, and which was titled to any public, private or parochial school on or before March 1, 1993, and which is registered to that public, private or parochial school in this Commonwealth as a bus prior to September 15, 1993.

"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.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 88gta350

QUOTE: Originally posted by HighIron2003ar

All school buses stop, open door, throw the 4 ways and look/listen then cross in a gear that will not stall.

Hazmat vehicles also.

You can have a Van hauling three kids painted Skool yellow and marked "School" they too must stop. If you can hang, paint, stick-on, install or otherwise mark a vehicle as a "School" bus in a contrasting color then that vehicle becomes a school bus.

That's not quite true, at least not in Pennsylvania. Here are the definitions of the various school-related vehicles in PA, in lawyer speak. Notice the law quoted above only requires "school buses" to stop. Notice "school bus" is only defined as 11 or more passengers, but not busses of 11-15 passengers registered before 1993. Anything less than 11 passengers is a "school vehicle", and by the law quoted above is not required to stop at grade crossings.

"School bus." A motor vehicle which:
(1) is designed to carry 11 passengers or more, including the driver; and
(2) is used for the transportation of preprimary, primary or secondary school students to or from public, private or parochial schools or events related to such schools or
school-related activities.
The term does not include a motor vehicle used to transport preprimary, primary or secondary school students to or from public, private or parochial schools or events related to such schools or schoolrelated activities, which is designed to carry 11 to 15 passengers, including the driver, and which is registered in this Commonwealth as a bus prior to March 1, 1993, or a motor vehicle which is designed to carry 11 to 15 passengers, including the driver, and which was titled to any public, private or parochial school on or before March 1, 1993, and which is registered to that public, private or parochial school in this Commonwealth as a bus prior to September 15, 1993.

"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.

I am gonna have to find the green bible and see if there is anything related to school "vehicles" I think we undrstand "Buses" but in the light of the Commonweath's word of Regulations as pertains to school vehicles with less than 11 students shows a lack of "clear" understanding on how these "vehicles" handle rail crossings.

[Anonymous]

From the Highway Traffic Act of Manitoba (Canada)
"regulated school bus" means a school bus with a seating capacity of more than 10 including the driver;

Stops by certain vehicles at railways

135(1) Except as provided in subsections (3) and (4), the driver of

(a) a vehicle carrying passengers for compensation; or

(b) a school bus carrying children; or

(c) a vehicle carrying flammable liquids or gas, whether or not it is then empty;

approaching a railway crossing shall stop the vehicle not less than 5 metres, or more than 15 metres, from the nearest rail of the railway, and, with the vehicle stopped, shall

(d) look in both directions along the railway for an approaching train;

(e) listen for signals indicating the approach of a train; and

(f) in the case of a bus or school bus, open the door of the vehicle;

and he shall not proceed unless he can do so in safety.

How's that for too much info.