August 18, 2003
Hoping to provide an alternative to rollover-prone 15-passenger vans, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has defined a new subcategory of school buses for use in transporting children in trips other than to and from school.
NHTSAs new subcategory, the "multifunction school activity bus" (MFSAB) is defined as a vehicle that is sold for purposes that do not include transportation between home and school for students from kindergarten through Grade 12. Accordingly, these multifunction buses will be exempt from requirements for traffic control equipment requirements.
"This modification allows institutions to take advantage of the safety benefits associated with school buses, which are by far the safest means of transporting children," said Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D., NHTSA administrator.
Under current federal law, dealers cannot sell a vehicle for the purpose of transporting school-age students to or from school or related events unless it meets all federal motor vehicle safety standards for school buses -- including devices designed to control traffic, such as flashing lights and stop arms.
The new multi-function buses will be exempt from the traffic control requirements but will be required to meet all other school bus safety standards.
NHTSA noted that in June 1999 the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended that the 50 states and the District of Columbia require that all vehicles carrying more than 10 passengers (buses) and transporting children to and from school and school-related activities meet the school bus structural standards.
The complete final rule is available at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/rulings.
