SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION; TRAFFIC REGULATIONS; TRANSPORTATION SAFETY;

SCHOOLS - TRANSPORTATION;

You asked if there is any state law that prohibits a school bus operator from backing the bus up twice to pick up a passenger.

We found no law that does this. Department of Motor Vehicles regulations specify that a school bus driver must apply “all reasonable measures” to safeguard the children when they are riding on the bus and getting on and off the bus (Conn. Agencies Regs. § 14-275c-3). Another regulation states, “Backing of the school bus shall be avoided, if possible. When backing maneuvers cannot be avoided, children shall be retained inside the bus. If there are children outside the bus, no backing maneuver shall be made unless a competent adult observer is on hand to direct the maneuver” (Conn. Agencies Regs. § 14-275c-18).

JF: ts