SCHOOL BUS SIGNAL LIGHTS H.B. 5969 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 5969 (Substitute S-2 as reported)
Sponsor: Representative Joanne Voorhees
House Committee: Transportation
Senate Committee: Transportation
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Pupil Transportation Act to delete specific requirements related to signal lights on school buses, and instead require signal lights to conform to U.S. Department of Transportation Federal motor vehicle safety regulations and the Michigan Vehicle Code. The bill also would revise procedures for a bus driver stopping to receive or discharge pupils, in regard to activating lights and pulling off the road.
Under the bill, if pupils were required to cross the roadway, the bus driver would have to stop on the roadway or private road, rather than as far to the right side as possible, as required currently. Additionally, the bill would require the bus to stop in the extreme right-hand lane for the purpose of boarding or discharging pupils.
Under the Act, if pupils are not required to cross the roadway and where the road is wide enough for the school bus to be pulled to the far right, the driver may activate the hazard warning lights at least 200 feet before the stop and continue to display the lights until the process of receiving or discharging passengers has been completed, if the lawful speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. The bill would require, rather than allow, the driver to activate the hazard lights before the stop. This provision would apply if the lawful speed limit were 45, rather than 35, miles per hour or less.
If pupils are not required to cross the roadway, where the bus may be pulled off the road or the road is wide enough for the bus to be pulled off to the far right, the driver may activate the hazard warning lights at least 200 feet before the stop. The bill would require a bus driver in this situation to activate the hazard warning lights before the stop.
Also, under the bill, if pupils were not required to cross the roadway, the driver would have to activate the alternatively flashing overhead red lights or red or amber lights, as applicable, at least 200 feet before the stop, stop the bus as far off the roadway or private road as practicable to provide for pupil safety, and activate the red flashing lights while receiving or discharging pupils. Before resuming motion, the driver would have to deactivate the lights and allow congested traffic to disperse where practicable.
MCL 257.1815 et al. Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 6-30-04 Fiscal Analyst: Bruce Baker
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb5969/0304