Drivers shall observe the following requirements while operating school buses within the City:
(a) Safety in Operation. Operators of school buses shall at all times operate such vehicles in a safe, prudent and careful manner having due regard for the traffic and the use of the highway by others.
(b) Speed. No school bus shall be operated on the highways or streets at a speed in excess of the safe and legal speed for the driving conditions prevailing. For example, a school bus shall not cut in and out of moving traffic. When traffic is congested, when road conditions are hazardous or when bad weather reduces driver visibility, the driver shall definitely reduce his speed to meet these conditions.
(c) Overtaking and Passing. A school bus shall not be driven to the left of the center line of the roadway in overtaking and passing traffic proceeding in the same direction unless such left side is clearly visible and free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance ahead to permit such overtaking and passing to be completed without interfering with the safe operation of any traffic approaching from the opposite direction or any traffic overtaken.
(d) Allowing Others to Pass. The school bus driver shall be considerate of other motorists and shall afford opportunity for other vehicles to pass if a long line of vehicles accumulates at the rear of the bus. While stopped but not loading or discharging pupils, the driver shall turn off his flasher lights and signal traffic to proceed.
(e) Parking Prohibited. A school bus shall not be parked within the limits of the highway right of way when not in use.
(f) Maintaining Space Between Vehicles. The operator of a school bus shall remain at least 100 feet from the preceding moving vehicle when driving on the school grounds and 400 feet while driving along the highway at normal speed.
(g) Doors. The doors of a school bus shall be kept closed while the bus is in motion and shall be kept closed until the bus is completely stopped to take on or discharge pupils. The emergency door shall be equipped with a fastening device which may be quickly released, but which is protected from accidental release. Control from the driver's seat is not permitted. Provision for opening from the outside shall consist of a type of handle of such design as to prevent hitching but that will permit opening when necessary.
(h) Railroad Crossings. Before crossing at grade any railroad track the driver shall stop the school bus and turn on the flashing stop lights and while so stopped he shall listen through an open door or open window and look in both directions along the track for any approaching train and for signals indicating the approach of a train and shall proceed only upon exercising due care after stopping, looking and listening as required by this section. Upon proceeding, after turning off the flashing stop lights, the driver shall cross only in such gear of the vehicle that will obviate the necessity for changing gears while traversing such crossing and shall not shift gears while crossing the tracks.
(i) Loading and Unloading on School Grounds.
(1) All loading and unloading at the school buildings shall be done on the school grounds or, where that is impossible, away from all traffic at the side of the road adjoining the school grounds with the bus facing in the legal direction and on the legal side of the road.
(2) All stop signal lamps shall be turned off while loading and unloading at the school building in order that traffic may proceed without interference.
(j) Care When Fueling. The driver shall not permit the gasoline tank to be filled while pupils are on the bus or while the motor is running.
(k) Loading and Unloading Procedure.
(1) Every pupil should be seated in an assigned seat. No bus shall be overloaded. The bus shall be considered overloaded when standees are in excess of ten percent of the rated seating capacity of the bus.
(2) The driver shall not permit an uneven distribution of his load. When picking up pupils he shall alternate the filling of front and rear seats. When unloading, care shall be taken that the pupils remaining are fairly evenly distributed between front and rear seats. The pupils shall not move from seat to seat while the bus is in motion.
(3) When approaching a stop sign or signal the bus driver shall cause the warning flasher lights to operate in advance of that sign or signal so that motorists may have sufficient warning of his intention.
(4) In receiving and discharging pupils on the highway the bus shall be driven to the extreme right side of the paved or traveled portion of the roadway and brought to a full stop, with the flasher or warning lights in operation the entire time the bus remains stationary. Whenever any warning light fails to operate, the bus driver shall assume the responsibility of assuring the safe crossing for pupils to their residence side of the highway.
(5) Whenever a school bus stops to discharge or load pupils who must cross the road at a point not under the control of a traffic officer or a clearly visible electrical or mechanical traffic signal, the pupils shall cross the highway at a point approximately ten feet in front of the standing bus. The bus shall not be started until the pupils are safely on their residence side of the road or aboard the bus.
(6) In no event shall a bus be driven backward on the school grounds where children are being loaded or unloaded.
(7) The bus driver shall be the sole operator of the entrance door and shall not open the door until traffic has cleared the bus in both directions. Pupils who must cross the highway to reach their destination shall cross in front of the stopped bus only after the driver has verified that the warning lamps are operating and has notified them that it is safe to cross.
(8) The door shall not be closed and the bus started again until such pupils have reached their residence side of the road.
(9) The driver of a school bus shall not use or permit the use of tobacco, alcohol or narcotics in any form while pupils are riding in the bus.
(10) The driver shall not leave the bus until he has stopped the engine, removed the ignition key and set the brakes.
(11) All buses shall be thoroughly cleaned on the inside daily and cleaned on the outside as often as is necessary to keep the front and rear windows, mirrors and markings clearly visible.
(12) Every school bus shall be equipped with a mirror positioned so that from the driver's seat the roadway can be viewed from the front bumper forward.
(l) Maintenance of Order. The driver shall be in complete charge of the bus at all times and shall be responsible for order. If unable to manage any pupil, the driver shall report the unmanageable pupil to the Division of Police. He shall not exclude a pupil from a bus.
(Ord. 1968-132. Passed 12-9-68.)