N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-50B.5

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 13:20-50B.5 - Bumpers

(a) A school bus shall be equipped with a front and rear bumper.

(b) Bumpers shall contain no sharp edges and shall be designed so as to prevent snagging.

(c) A front safety shield may be attached directly under the school bus front bumper. The front safety shield shall be constructed of rigid plastic, fiberglass, steel, or equivalent material. The shield shall be designed to withstand abnormal vibration or severe atmospheric conditions. The front safety shield shall be removable to permit towing. The front safety shield's overall width shall not extend beyond the front tire width when the school bus wheels are in a straight-ahead position. The bottom edge of the shield shall terminate 12 to 14 inches above the road surface. The front surface of the front safety shield may be solid, perforated, or louvered, and shall be black.

(d) The rear bumper shall be provided by the body manufacturer. The rear bumper shall be constructed of pressed steel channel or equivalent material. The rear bumper shall be at least 3/16 inch thick. The rear bumper on Type A school buses shall be a minimum of eight inches high. The rear bumper on Type B, C, and D school buses shall be a minimum of 9 1/2 inches high.

(e) The bumpers shall be of sufficient strength to permit pushing by another vehicle without permanent distortion to the bumper, chassis, or body.

(f) The rear bumper shall wrap around the rear corners of the school bus and shall extend forward at least 12 inches, measured from the rearmost point of the school bus body at the floor line, and shall be flush-mounted to the body sides or protected by an end panel.

(g) The rear bumper shall be attached to the chassis frame in such a manner that it may be easily removed. The rear bumper shall be braced so as to withstand impact from the rear or side, and shall be attached in a manner so as to prevent to the greatest extent possible the hitching of rides.

(h) The rear bumper shall extend at least one inch beyond the rearmost part of the body surface measured at the floor line. The rear bumper shall not contain any holes other than the opening to accommodate the exhaust pipe, the manufacturer's drain holes, and the holes required to accommodate the mounting bolts. If there is an opening in the bumper to accommodate an exhaust pipe, the opening shall not be more than one-half inch larger than the exhaust pipe diameter. There shall be at least one and one-half inches of bumper material above and below the opening measured from the top edge and bottom edge of the bumper. The bumper may be reinforced around the opening for the exhaust pipe.

(i) A school bus shall not be equipped with a rear bumper designed in a manner so that it can be used as a step. Rear bumpers may be equipped with tow hook access panels only if the access panels shall remain securely closed when tow hooks are not in use.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-50B.5

Amended by R.2012 d.023, effective 2/6/2012.
See: 43 N.J.R. 1831(a), 44 N.J.R. 287(b).
In (i), inserted the last sentence.