hb 0663

CHAPTER 81

HB 663 - FINAL VERSION

AN ACT relative to lights on school buses.

SPONSORS: Rep. P. Bradley, Coos 6; Rep. Stohl, Coos 1; Rep. L. Pratt, Coos 4; Rep. Mears, Coos 7

This bill permits school buses equipped with strobe lights to be driven on the ways of the state. This bill also requires drivers of school buses equipped with strobe lights to operate the strobe lights throughout the regular route, and modifies other rules of the road relative to the driving of schoolbuses.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

AN ACT relative to lights on school buses.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

81:1 Rules of the Road; Driving of School Buses. RSA 265:57 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

I. The driver of a school bus shall decrease speed when approaching a school bus stop and activate the amber warning lights a minimum of 100 feet prior to the stop.

II.(a) The driver shall stop the bus as far to the right of the highway as possible, yet remain on the traveled portion of the roadway. If facilities and stopping areas are available, the school bus shall be stopped completely off the highway.

(b) The bus shall be stopped in a position at least 10 feet from the students or in a position which allows students to cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus.

III. As the driver approaches a school bus stop, the driver shall check oncoming traffic, traffic to the rear of the school bus, and traffic to both sides of the school bus to ascertain whether traffic is stopping. When the school bus has come to a complete stop and it is safe to take on or discharge students, the driver shall open the service door and thereby activate the red flashing lights.

IV. If the school bus is equipped with strobe lights, the strobe lights shall be kept in continuous operation at all times throughout the regular route, home-to-school and school-to-home.

81:2 Motor Vehicles; Equipment of Vehicles; Lights, Signals, Flashers, Reflectors, and Flags; School Bus Stop Signals; Strobe Lights Added. Amend RSA 266:39 to read as follows:

I. The director shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 260:5 requiring certain school buses to be equipped with automatic flasher-type stop lights located on the front and rear. Said stop lights shall be of such types and designs as approved by said director. No school bus shall be driven upon the ways of the state which does not carry the equipment which may be required by the director under the provisions of this [~~section~~] paragraph. It shall be unlawful to operate any flashing warning signal light on any school bus except when any said school bus is stopped on a way for the purpose of permitting school children to board or alight from said school bus.

II. White strobe lights may be permanently mounted on the longitudinal center line of the bus roof. Strobe lights shall be capable of being activated and deactivated by the driver.

81:3 Motor Vehicles; Equipment of Vehicles; Equipment Prohibited; Emergency Lights; Exceptions; School Buses Added. Amend RSA 266:74, I to read as follows:

I. It shall be unlawful for any motor vehicle equipped with an emergency light to be driven on the ways of the state. This provision shall not apply to vehicles of any law enforcement agencies or officers, forestry departments, fire departments, volunteer ambulance drivers, volunteer members of fire departments, state, city, or town highway or public works departments, public utilities, wreckers, public or private ambulances, private snow removal vehicles, emergency highway service vehicles, postal service vehicles, school buses, and such other vehicles as determined by the director. Emergency lights shall not be in operation except during an emergency, and in the case of private snow removal vehicles, while such vehicle is actively in use in snow removal, and, in the case of postal service vehicles, while such vehicle is actively engaged in delivering mail, and, in the case of school buses, while such school bus is actively engaged in the transportation of students.