S-599                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5149

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators von Reichbauer, Talmadge and Patterson

Read first time 1/16/89 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to student transportation safety; amending RCW 46.61.370; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.58 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 52, chapter 155, Laws of 1965 ex. sess. and RCW 46.61.370 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) The driver of a vehicle upon overtaking or meeting from either direction any school bus which has stopped on the highway for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school children shall stop the vehicle before reaching such school bus when there is in operation on said school bus a visual signal as specified in RCW 46.37.190 and said driver shall not proceed until such school bus resumes motion or is signaled by the school bus driver to proceed or the visual signals are no longer activated.

          (2) Every school bus shall bear upon the front and rear thereof plainly visible signs containing the words "SCHOOL BUS" in letters not less than eight inches in height, and in addition shall be equipped with visual signals meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.190 which shall be actuated by the driver of said school bus whenever ((but only whenever)) such vehicle is stopped on the highway for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children, except:

          (a) ((When school children do not have to cross a highway and the bus is stopped completely off the main traveled portion of the roadway; or

          (b))) When the bus is stopped at an intersection or place where traffic is controlled by a traffic officer or official traffic control signal; or

          (((c))) (b) When the bus is stopped at school for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children and school children are not required to cross the roadway.

          (3) The driver of a vehicle upon a highway divided into separate roadways as provided in RCW 46.61.150, need not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus which is on a separate roadway or when upon a limited access highway and the school bus is stopped in a loading zone which is a part of or adjacent to such highway and where pedestrians are not permitted to cross the roadway.

(4) On multiple lane highways the bus route shall serve each side of the roadway for kindergarten and elementary school students so that the child does not have to cross the roadway.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.58 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) All school districts or local jurisdictions shall employ and compensate adult school-crossing guards to adequately protect lower elementary school students who must cross heavily traveled streets, highways, or roadways on foot.

          (2) Local law enforcement agencies shall determine which sites are heavily traveled and in need of adult school-crossing guards to adequately protect lower elementary school students.