HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 2355

BYRepresentatives Cole, Betrozoff, Peery, Holland, Rector and Winsley; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Changing rules of the road with regard to school buses and private carrier buses.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (18)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Cole, Dorn, Fuhrman, Holland, Horn, Jones, P. King, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Schoon, Valle, Walker and K. Wilson.

House Staff:Bob Butts (786-7841)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 7, 1990

BACKGROUND:

As the state becomes more urbanized, larger numbers of school children are required to use school bus stops located on busy, multilane highways. Crossing of these multilane highways can be dangerous, and accidents have occurred as children have gotten off buses.

SUMMARY:

A driver traveling on a divided highway or on a highway with three or more marked traffic lanes need not stop for a school bus or a private carrier bus when the bus is receiving or discharging passengers if the bus is traveling in the opposite direction.

School and private carrier bus drivers shall actuate their stop signal and flashing red lights only when the bus is stopped on the roadway for the purpose of discharging and receiving passengers.  The only time that a driver may stop off the roadway when discharging and receiving passengers is when the passengers do not have to cross the roadway.  Amber colored warning lights must be displayed in these cases.

A current exemption in law that requires the use of the flashing red lights while loading or discharging students at intersections is eliminated.

On divided highways and highways with three or more marked traffic lanes, public and private school bus routes shall serve each side of the highway unless there is a traffic control signal or an adult crossing guard within 300 feet of the bus stop.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Don Carnahan, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Alison Young, Harborview Injury Prevention Center.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Pedestrian accidents are one of the leading causes of death for young children. Current laws regarding bus safety are ambiguous and do not protect children.  This bill will make the laws more clear, and will improve student safety.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.