EOJ-P1 - Requirements and Prohibitions: Bus Drivers

The following requirements and prohibitions shall be respected.

Requirements:

The Driver of a school bus shall:

1. Have a  valid driver’s licence to operate a school bus vehicle;

2. Be competent to operate the vehicle under his or her charge;

3. Determine the safe condition of the school bus by daily inspection and immediately report any defect to the mechanic.  Defects are to be recorded in the log book;

4. Comply with all the requirements in The Highway Traffic Act and these regulations;

5. Complete such reports and forms as are required by the School Board;

6. Operate the school bus over such routes, and on the days and times as required by the School Board;

7. Immediately report any accident arising out of the operation of the school bus, as required by The Highway Traffic Act, and to the School Board;

8. Not operate the school bus after an accident arising out of the operation of the school bus, until he or she has instructions from the School Board to do so, and the school bus is in safe mechanical condition;

9. Obtain a School Bus Driver certificate from the office of the Pupil Transportation Unit of the Department of Education and Training before operating a school bus carrying passengers, and

10. Whether carrying passengers or not, before crossing any track or tracks of a  railway, bring the school bus to a full stop not less than 5 metres (urban) or more than 15 metres (rural) from the rail nearest the front of the school bus, and fully open the service door, listen and look in both directions along the track or tracks for approaching trains, and proceed only when safe to do so. (See EOK) [M.R. 465/88 (15)]

Prohibitions:

No Driver of a school bus shall:

1. Operate a school bus contrary to The Highway Traffic Act and Manitoba Regulation 465/88;

2. Leave a school bus unattended while pupils are in the bus, except when required to assist other pupils to cross the highway;

3. Tow another vehicle, or permit the school bus to be towed, while pupils are on board;

4. Smoke/vape, or allow any person to smoke/vape, on the school bus;

5. Refuel the school bus while pupils are on board;

6. Leave the school bus without setting the emergency brake;

7. Stop the school bus to receive or discharge pupils on a roadway where vehicle speed limits are 60 kilometres per hour or greater, when the school bus is not, under normal atmospheric conditions, clearly visible in its stopped position from the front or rear for a distance of at least 150 metres;

8. Allow passengers to stand while the vehicle is in motion;

9. Operate a school bus containing more passengers than the manufacturer’s specified seating capacity;

10. Operate a school bus in which the aisle, entrance door or emergency door is obstructed in any manner, or

11. Operate a school bus in which wheelchairs are not secured with a device equivalent to the description in clause 4(j) of M.R. 465/88.  [M.R. 465/88 (16)]

12. Use a handheld electronic device or cellular phone (Division bus radio exempt) while operating a school bus.  This prohibition includes Bluetooth or voice activated devices. [HTA 215.1(1)-215.1(5)].