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S. 357
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senator Alexander
Document Path: l:\council\bills\swb\5163cm03.doc
Companion/Similar bill(s): 3333
Introduced in the Senate on February 12, 2003
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Transportation
Summary: School buses, routes, passing
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2/12/2003 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7 2/12/2003 Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-7
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2770, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SCHOOL BUS SIGNALS AND MARKINGS, AND MEETING, OVERTAKING, AND PASSING A SCHOOL BUS, SO AS TO REQUIRE A DRIVER OF A SCHOOL BUS TO ACTUATE CERTAIN SIGNALS WHEN THE BUS IS STOPPED OR PREPARING TO STOP ON A HIGHWAY, TO DELETE THE PROVISIONS THAT EXEMPT A DRIVER OF A VEHICLE FROM STOPPING UPON MEETING A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS ON HIGHWAYS WHERE THE ROADWAYS ARE SEPARATED BY AN EARTH OR RAISED CONCRETE MEDIAN AND THAT REQUIRE THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE TO STOP UPON MEETING OR PASSING A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS ON CERTAIN HIGHWAYS OR WHEN OVERTAKING A SCHOOL BUS, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE NEED NOT STOP UPON MEETING A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS WHEN TRAVELING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON A FOUR-LANE OR MULTI-LANE HIGHWAY, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE MUST STOP UPON MEETING OR PASSING A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS IN THE SAME DIRECTION ON A MULTI-LANE HIGHWAY, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A SCHOOL BUS ROUTE THAT REQUIRES PASSENGERS TO BE LOADED OR OFF-LOADED ON A FOUR OR MULTI-LANE HIGHWAY MUST BE DESIGNED TO PREVENT A STUDENT FROM CROSSING A FOUR OR MULTI-LANE HIGHWAY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 56-5-2770 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 56-5-2770. (a)(A) The driver of a vehicle meeting or overtaking from either direction any a school bus stopped on the highway shall stop before reaching the bus where there are in operation on the bus flashing red lights specified in State Department of Education Regulations and Specifications Pertaining to School Buses, and the driver shall not proceed until the bus resumes motion or the flashing red lights are no longer actuated.
(b)(B) Every A school bus shall must be equipped with red or red and amber visual signals meeting the requirements of State Department of Education Regulations and Specifications Pertaining to School Buses, which may must be actuated by the driver whenever, but only whenever, when the bus is stopped or preparing to stop on the a highway for the purpose of receiving or discharging to receive or discharge school children. A driver shall not actuate the special visual signal in designated school bus loading areas if the bus is entirely off the roadway entirely.
(c)(C) Every A school bus shall bear upon its front and rear plainly visible signs containing the words 'SCHOOL BUS' in letters not less than eight inches in height. When a bus is being operated upon a highway for purposes other than the actual transportation of children either to or from school or school related activities, all markings indicating 'SCHOOL BUS' shall must be covered or concealed.
(d)(D) The driver of a vehicle need not stop upon meeting a stopped school bus:
1. when the bus is in a passenger loading zone completely off the main travel lanes and when pedestrians are not allowed to cross the roadway.; or
2. On highways where the roadways are separated by an earth or raised concrete median when traveling in the opposite direction on a four-lane or multi-lane highway.
(e)(E) The driver of a vehicle must stop upon meeting or passing a stopped school bus:
1. on any a two-lane highway.; or
2.On any four-lane or multi-laned highway where opposing highway is separated only by painted lines on the roadway or a narrow gravel median.
3. When overtaking a school bus which has red or amber signals actuated in the same direction on a multi-lane highway.
(F) A school bus route that requires passengers to be loaded or off-loaded on a four or multi-lane highway must be designed to prevent a student from crossing a four or multi-lane highway."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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