South Carolina General Assembly
115th Session, 2003-2004

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Bill 3333


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Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2770, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SIGNALS AND MARKINGS ON SCHOOL BUSES, AND PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE LEGAL PASSING OF A BUS, SO AS TO REVISE THE CIRCUMSTANCES UPON WHICH THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE NEED NOT STOP UPON MEETING A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES UPON WHICH THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE MUST STOP UPON MEETING OR PASSING A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A SCHOOL BUS ROUTE THAT REQUIRES PASSENGERS TO BE OFF-LOADED ALONG A MULTI-LANE HIGHWAY MUST BE DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT A STUDENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO CROSS 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 must 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 must 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, the bus is stopped or preparing to stop on the highway for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children. A driver shall must 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 must 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 when:

1.(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.; and

2.(2)    On highways where the roadways are separated by an earth or raised concrete median 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. (1)    on any a two-lane highway.; and

2. (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 traveling in the same direction on a multi-lane highway.

(F)    A school bus route that requires passengers to be off-loaded along a multi-lane highway must be designed to ensure that a student is not required to cross a four or multi-lane highway."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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