Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

• No statutes or acts will be found at this website.

The Pennsylvania Code website reflects the Pennsylvania Code changes effective through 53 Pa.B. 8238 (December 30, 2023).

Pennsylvania Code



Subchapter E. SCHOOL VEHICLE STANDARDS


Sec.


171.121.    Applicability.
171.122.    Fire extinguisher.
171.123.    First aid.
171.124.    Identification.
171.125.    Seating.
171.126.    Web cutter.
171.127.    Certification.

Cross References

   This subchapter cited in 67 Pa. Code §  171.91 (relating to general requirement).

§ 171.121. Applicability.

 The requirements of this subchapter apply to motor vehicles used to transport preprimary, primary or secondary school students to or from public, private or parochial schools or events related to these schools or school-related activities, which are designed to carry 11 to 15 passengers, including the driver, and which are 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 and school vehicles.

Authority

   The provisions of this §  171.121 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § §  4103, 4551—4553 and 6103.

Source

   The provisions of this §  171.121 adopted August 19, 1983, effective August 20, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2561; readopted December 4, 1987, effective December 5, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 5052; amended September 13, 1996, effective September 14, 1996, 26 Pa.B. 4411; amended May 20, 2005, effective May 21, 2005, 35 Pa.B. 3039. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (301843) to (301844).

Cross References

   This section cited in 67 Pa. Code §  171.122 (relating to fire extinguisher); and 67 Pa. Code §  171.124 (relating to identification).

§ 171.122. Fire extinguisher.

 (a)  Required. Every school vehicle and every motor vehicle described in §  171.121 (relating to applicability) shall be equipped with at least one pressurized, multi-purpose, dry chemical or halogenated agent fire extinguisher, mounted in a bracket readily accessible to the driver. The fire extinguisher shall be mounted as directed by the manufacturer. The fire extinguisher shall have a hose and nozzle and be in good and usable condition. A pressure gauge shall be mounted on the extinguisher so as to be easily read without removing the extinguisher from its mounted position.

 (b)  Type. The fire extinguisher shall be of a type meeting the Underwriter Laboratories, Inc. Standard 299 or 1093—See Appendix A—with a total rating of not less than 2 A-10 BC. The operating mechanism shall be sealed with a type of seal which will not interfere with the use of the fire extinguisher.

Authority

   The provisions of this §  171.122 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § §  4103, 4551—4553 and 6103.

Source

   The provisions of this §  171.122 adopted August 19, 1983, effective August 20, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2561; readopted December 4, 1987, effective December 5, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 5052; amended September 13, 1996, effective September 14, 1996, 26 Pa.B. 4411. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (122815).

§ 171.123. First aid.

 (a)  Required. Every vehicle shall have a removable moisture and dustproof first aid kit mounted in an accessible place within the driver’s compartment. The first aid kit shall be mounted as directed by the manufacturer. The first aid kit shall be labeled and securely placed or mounted in an easily accessible location.

 (b)  Content. The first aid kit shall contain, at a minimum, the following items:

   (1)  One 1 inch x 2 1/2 yards rolls of nonlatex adhesive tape.

   (2)  One package sterile gauze pads, 3 inches x 3 inches.

   (3)  One package 3/4 inch x 3 inches adhesive bandages.

   (4)  One package 2 inch bandage compresses.

   (5)  One package 3 inch bandage compresses.

   (6)  One 2 inch x 6 yards sterile gauze roller bandage.

   (7)  One nonsterile triangular bandage approximately 40 inches x 36 inches x 54 inches with two safety pins.

   (8)  One package sterile gauze pads, 36 inches x 36 inches (U.S.P. 2423 count).

   (9)  One sterile eye pad.

   (10)  One pair rounded end scissors.

 (c)  Body fluid clean-up kit. Every vehicle shall have a removable and moisture proof body fluid clean-up kit. It shall be securely placed or mounted in an easily accessible location and labeled as a body fluid clean-up kit.

 (d)  Surgical gloves and mouth barriers. Either the first aid kit or the body fluid cleanup kit shall contain:

   (1)  One pair of nonlatex surgical gloves.

   (2)  One mouth barrier.

Authority

   The provisions of this §  171.123 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § §  4103, 4551—4553 and 6103.

Source

   The provisions of this §  171.123 adopted August 19, 1983, effective August 20, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2561; readopted December 4, 1987, effective December 5, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 5052; amended September 13, 1996, effective September 14, 1996, 26 Pa.B. 4411; amended November 26, 2003, effective November 29, 2003, 33 Pa.B. 5817. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (219656) to (219657).

§ 171.124. Identification.

 (a)  Required. Every school vehicle and every motor vehicle described in §  171.121 (relating to applicability) shall bear the words, ‘‘School Students,’’ in black letters at least 6 inches in height on a background of National School Bus Yellow—see Appendix B—on two separate signs attached to the front and rear of the vehicle or on one two-sided sign located approximately in the center of the vehicle and visible from both the front and rear. Signs shall be a minimum of 44 inches long mounted in a horizontal position and clearly visible to oncoming vehicles. Front and rear mounted signs shall be mounted at a height of not less than 12 inches from the ground measuring from the bottom of the sign and securely fastened to prevent the sign from swinging. When space permits, signs may be painted on the vehicle in a straight line as high as possible. Decals or magnetic signs are permitted. Lettering shall conform to Series B of Standard Alphabets for Highway Signs.

 (b)  Additional markings. School vehicles and motor vehicles described in §  171.121 shall have the name of the school district, contractor’s name, or private or parochial school, lettered on each side of the body in letters of not less than 2 inches in height and not more than 4 inches in height. Decals are permitted.

Authority

   The provisions of this §  171.124 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § §  4103, 4551—4553 and 6103.

Source

   The provisions of this §  171.124 adopted August 19, 1983, effective August 20, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2561; readopted December 4, 1987, effective December 5, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 5052; amended September 13, 1996, effective September 14, 1996, except subsection (b) effective September 15, 1997, 26 Pa.B. 4411. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (122816).

§ 171.125. Seating.

 (a)  Vehicle seats. Vehicle seats and seat belts shall be of a type and installed as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

 (b)  Dividers. Dividers may not be used to separate the seats.

 (c)  Seating space. A designated seating position of safe design and construction shall be provided for each passenger and a passenger may not be carried for which a safe designated seating position is not available. Seats shall be forward facing.

 (d)  Child passenger restraints. Drivers of school vehicles are required to comply with the requirements of 75 Pa.C.S. §  4581 (relating to child passenger restraints) and the Department’s regulations implementing those requirements.

Authority

   The provisions of this §  171.125 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § §  4103, 4551—4553 and 6103.

Source

   The provisions of this §  171.125 adopted August 19, 1983, effective August 20, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2561; readopted December 4, 1987, effective December 5, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 5052; amended September 13, 1996, effective September 14, 1996, 26 Pa.B. 4411; amended May 20, 2005, effective May 21, 2005, 35 Pa.B. 3039. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (301846).

§ 171.126. Web cutter.

 Every school vehicle shall have at least one web cutter securely mounted in a visible location within the driver’s compartment.

Authority

   The provisions of this §  171.126 issued under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § §  4551—4553 and 6103.

Source

   The provisions of this §  171.126 adopted May 20, 2005, effective May 21, 2005, 35 Pa.B. 3039.

§ 171.127. Certification.

 A school vehicle shall be certified by the original manufacturer or final stage manufacturer to meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for a passenger car or a multipurpose passenger vehicle.

Authority

   The provisions of this §  171.127 issued under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § §  4551—4553 and 6103.

Source

   The provisions of this §  171.127 adopted May 20, 2005, effective May 21, 2005, 35 Pa.B. 3039.



No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.


This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.