Operations

13.0 Operation of a School Transportation Vehicle

13.1 A school transportation vehicle shall not be operated in a manner which is unsafe, likely to cause an accident, or likely to damage the vehicle.

13.2 A school transportation vehicle shall not be placed in motion on a roadway, highway, or private road with the passenger entry door/service doo open.

13.3 A school transportation vehicle's headlights or daytime running headlights shall be activated while the vehicle is in operation.

13.4 A school transportation vehicle shall not be fueled while students are on board, except in instances when unloading the students would present a greater hazard or peril to their safety.

13.5 Use of tobacco products as defined in Section 18-13-121(5), C.R.S., use or possession of illegal controlled substances, use or possession of alcohol, and use or possession of marijuana or cannabinoid product, except as otherwise allowed by law, aboard any school transportation vehicle shall be prohibited at all times.

13.6 A school transportation vehicle operator shall not consume food unless the vehicle is stopped at a safe location with the park/emergency brake set.

13.7 When a school transportation vehicle is equipped with a roof mounted strobe lamp, the use of the strobe lamp is permitted only when the vehicle presents a hazard to other motorists, such as loading or unloading students in inclement weather or to enhance visibility of the vehicle when barriers inhibit such visibility.

13.8 A school transportation vehicle operator may use the strobe, in addition to the four way hazard lamps, to warn other motorists that the vehicle is not in motion or is being operated at a speed of twenty-five miles per hour or less.

13.9 The school transportation vehicle operator shall use extreme caution when backing. Before backing on a roadway, highway, or private property, the horn or audible warning device shall be sounded, and four-way hazard lamps actuated or there shall be a person outside the vehicle giving direction.

     13.09(a) Backing a school transportation vehicle when students are outside of the vehicle at a student stop is prohibited.

13.10 A Type A, B, C, and D School Bus, Multifunction Bus, and Motor Coach Bus shall not be operated with a trailer or other vehicle attached while students are being transported.

13.11 School transportation small capacity vehicles, with the capacity of 15 or fewer passengers (counting the driver), may tow trailers while students are being transported to the extent that trailering is a necessary component of a school district or charter school sponsored program.

14.0 Authorized Passengers

14.1 Only school district, charter school, or service provider personnel; students enrolled in a school district or charter school; law enforcement officials; or individuals that have received prior authorization from the school district, charter schools, or service provider may be passengers on any school transportation vehicle.

14.2 The number of passengers transported on any school transportation vehicle shall not exceed the maximum seating capacity of the vehicle. Small vehicle capacity shall not exceed the number of safety belts as designed by the vehicle manufacturer.

14.3 Passengers shall not be permitted to stand in any school transportation vehicle while the vehicle is in motion. This does not preclude authorized persons (such as school transportation paraprofessionals) from completing their duties as required.

14.4 School districts, charter schools, and service providers shall consider the size of the passengers when determining the number of passengers that can safely occupy a school transportation vehicle seat.

This is self-explanatory, but what about the chaperones’ six-month-old baby? Or the driver’s three-year-old child that is not enrolled in a school-sponsored program? They may ride ONLY if they are given prior authorization. If they are given authorization then you, the school bus driver, will be responsible for the proper securement of that child. Check your district/charter and service provider policy.

15.0 Safety Restraints

15.1 A school transportation vehicle operator shall have the safety belt fastened, worn correctly and properly adjusted prior to the school transportation vehicle being placed in motion.

15.2 All passengers in a school transportation vehicle under 10,000 lbs. GVWR shall have their safety belts fastened, worn correctly and properly adjusted prior to the school transportation being placed in motion.

National Association of State Director of Pupil Transportation School Bus Seat Capacity Position Paper 1999

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association recommends that all passengers be seated entirely within the confines of the school bus seats while the bus is in motion. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection" requires that the interior of large buses provide occupant protection so that children are protected without the need to buckle-up. Occupant crash protection is provided by a protective envelope consisting of strong, closely spaced seats that have energy-absorbing seat backs.

Persons not sitting or sitting partially outside of the school bus seats will not be afforded the occupant protection provided by the school bus seats.  A manufacturer’s seating capacity in school buses can vary depending on the vehicle. They normally set the capacity limits based on three students per seat. So, for three students to fit in each seat they would be required to be elementary students that are quite small.

Attempting to put three secondary or high school students in one seat would make it extremely uncomfortable for the students and more than likely cause one of them to have their feet in the aisle producing a trip hazard and reducing the use of compartmentalization. If you believe that your bus is overloaded, check with your supervisor to see what can be done to reduce your student count. Also, check your district/charter and service provider policy regarding “in-use” capacity.

25-14-103.5

Prohibition against the use of tobacco products and retail marijuana on school property - legislative declaration - education program - special account - definitions.

(1)The general assembly finds that many of the schools in this state permit the use of tobacco products in and around school property. The general assembly further finds that secondhand smoke generated by such activity and the negative example set and frequently imitated by our school children are detrimental to the health and well-being of such children as well as to school teachers, staff, and visitors. Accordingly, the general assembly finds and declares that it is appropriate to create a safe and healthy school environment by prohibiting the use of tobacco products on all school property.

(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) School means a public nursery school, day care center, childcare facility, head start program, kindergarten, or elementary or secondary school through grade twelve.

(b) School property means all property, whether owned, leased, rented, or otherwise used by a school, including, but not limited to, the following:

(I) All interior portions of any building used for instruction, administration, support services, maintenance, and storage and any other structure used by a school; except that such term shall not apply to a building primarily used as a residence;

(II) All school grounds surrounding any building specified in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (b) over which the school is authorized to exercise dominion and control.  Such grounds shall include any playground, athletic field, recreation area, and parking area; and 

(III) All vehicles used by the school for the purpose of transporting students, workers, visitors, or any other persons.

(c) Tobacco products shall have the same meaning as set forth in section 18-13-121 (5), C.R.S.

(d) Use means the lighting, chewing, smoking, ingestion, or application of any tobacco product.

(2) (a) (I) The board of education of each school district shall adopt appropriate policies for marijuana or retail marijuana products authorized pursuant to article 10 of title 44 on all school property by students, teachers, staff, and visitors and that provide for the enforcement of such policies and rules.

Notice that this says “use” of tobacco products. Noting that there are many drivers that use tobacco products, it is not prohibited for you to carry them on your person or in your private bag, purse, etc. However, it is prohibited from using tobacco products at any time, not just when students are on board. There are many people that have medical conditions that can be aggravated by tobacco smoke, so if you are going to smoke tobacco make sure you are far enough away from the school transportation vehicle that smoke does not enter the vehicle. Smoking is prohibited on school property.

As a school bus driver, the public holds you at a higher expectation. Please do not wear clothing that promotes the use of tobacco, alcohol, or controlled substances. Follow your district/charter and service providers’ dress code.

Use of Hazard Warning Lights

Under certain circumstances operators may use their hazard warning lights to provide an extra margin of safety and while conducting a student loading and discharging passengers when you are in a school transportation small capacity vehicle.

Slowing Down

Warn drivers behind you when you see you will need to slow down. A few light taps on the brake pedal -- enough to flash the brake lights -- should warn following drivers.

Use the four-way emergency flashers for times when you are driving very slowly or are stopped. Warn other drivers in any of the following situations:

Trouble Ahead

The size of your vehicle may make it hard for drivers behind you to see hazards ahead. If you see a hazard that will require slowing down, warn the drivers behind by flashing your brake lights.

Stopping on the Road

Truck and bus drivers sometimes stop in the roadway to unload cargo or passengers, or to stop at a railroad crossing. Warn following drivers by flashing your brake lights. Do not stop suddenly.

Driving Slowly

Drivers often do not realize how fast they are catching up to a slow vehicle until they are very close. If you must drive slowly, alert following drivers by turning on your emergency flashers if it is legal. (Laws regarding the use of flashers differ from one state to another. Check the laws of the states where you will drive.)

1 CCR 301-26

13.8 A school transportation vehicle operator may use the strobe, in addition to the four-way hazard lamps, to warn other motorists that the vehicle is not in motion or is being operated at a speed of twenty-five miles per hour or less.

13.9 The school transportation vehicle operator shall use extreme caution when backing. Before backing on a roadway, highway or private property, the horn or audible warning device shall be sounded and four-way hazard lamps actuated or there shall be a person outside the vehicle giving direction 

13.09(a) Backing a school transportation vehicle when students are outside of the vehicle at a student stop is prohibited.

18.7 Four-way hazard lamps shall be used on private property such as parking lots

18.11 Pursuant to Section 42-4-1903(2), C.R.S., school transportation vehicle operators are not required to actuate the alternating flashing red warning signal lamps on a school bus 

(1) when the student stop is at a location where the local traffic regulatory authority has by prior written designation declared such actuation unnecessary and 

(2) when discharging or loading passengers who require the assistance of a lift device and no passenger is required to cross the roadway. Further, Type A Multifunction Buses and school transportation small capacity vehicles do not have the functionality to control traffic. In these instances, the school transportation vehicle operator shall stop as far to the right off the roadway as possible to reduce obstruction to traffic, activate the four-way hazard warning lamps a minimum of 200 feet prior to the student stop, continue to display the four-way hazard warning lamps until the process of discharging or loading passengers has been completed, and deactivate the four-way hazard lamps before resuming motion. Students are prohibited from crossing any lanes of traffic to access the student stop or after disembarking.

18.13 Pursuant to 42-4-707 C.R.S., School transportation vehicle operators of School Buses, Multifunction Buses, and Motor Coach Buses, whether transporting students or not, shall apply the following procedures during the process of approaching, stopping, and crossing railroad tracks:

18.13(a) Activate the four-way hazard lamps not less than 200 feet from the railroad crossing to alert other motorists of the pending stop for the crossing;

18.13(b) Stop the bus within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail;

18.13(c) When stopped, the bus shall be as far to the right of the roadway as possible and shall not form two lanes of traffic unless the highway is marked for four or more lanes of traffic; and

18.13(d) Use a prearranged signal to alert students to the need for quiet aboard the bus when approaching railroad tracks. Turn off all noise making equipment (fans, heater, radio, etc.)

Model Traffic Code for Colorado

Part 2 – Equipment – 230. Emergency lighting equipment – who must carry

(2) Whenever a motor vehicle referred to in subsection (1) of this section is stopped upon the traveled portion of a highway or the shoulder of a highway for any cause other than necessary traffic stops, the driver of the stopped motor vehicle shall immediately activate the vehicular hazard warning signal flashers and continue the flashing until the driver places the bidirectional emergency reflective triangles as directed in subsection (3) of this section.