How are school buses regulated?
School buses are probably the most regulated segment of the transportation industry. That’s probably due to the fact that they carry children, and parents care about their children. The federal government only regulates the industry at the manufacturing level. Through a series of federal motor vehicle safety standards, Uncle Sam requires all school buses to be manufactured to stringent safety standards. But federal jurisdiction only prevails until the vehicle hits the road. Then it becomes a state responsibility. States nationwide have extensive school bus regulations, typically in their motor vehicle laws and also education laws. Again, no one knows for certain, but research by School Transportation News has uncovered more than 500 state laws governing school transportation. In addition, school districts, as public entities, typically have extensive policies governing their school bus operations. These policies reflect both federal and state laws.
