OAR 581-053-0250: Retrofit Standards for Oregon School Buses

In addition to meeting the minimum standards in effect at the time of purchase, all school buses in use by a pupil transportation entity shall meet the following additional requirements: (1) Body Fluid Kits: All school buses shall have body fluid kits that meet the requirements in OAR 581-053-0240 (2) Emergency equipment – Belt Cutter: Each bus shall have a belt cutter that meets the requirements of OAR 581-053-0240 (3) Emergency Door and Exit Labeling: (a) All emergency doors shall have the designation “Emergency Door” in letters at least one-inch-high, of a color that contrasts with its background. The designation shall be located at the top of, or directly above, the emergency door on both the inside and outside surfaces of the bus; (b) All emergency window exits (swing-out windows and rear push-out windows) shall have the designation “Emergency Exit” in letters at least one-inch-high, of a color that contrasts with its background. The designation shall be located at the top of, or directly above, or at the bottom of the emergency window exit on both the inside and outside surfaces of the bus. (4) Emissions: School buses that operate on diesel fuel and do not meet the emission standards applicable to an engine manufactured on or after January 1, 2007, shall not be used on or after January 1, 2026. (5) Fog Lights: Regardless of the age of the vehicle, if a front fog light system is installed after January 21, 1997, then the system shall meet the following requirements: (a) Fog lamps shall be mounted symmetrically around the front centerline of the bus, below the headlights not less than 12 inches no more than 30 inches above the ground; (b) Fog lamps shall be wired to a separate switch and shall only come on when the low beam head lights are on. (c) A steady burning indicator light shall be wired so it comes on when the fog lamps are turned on and mounted in a location readily visible to the driver (d) Fog light systems installed on vehicles prior to January 21, 1997, are exempted from this regulation. (6) Identification: The name of the school district, private school, or parochial school shall be placed on all school buses on both the left and right sides of the bus. The name shall appear in the area directly below the side windows and the letters and figures in the name shall not be less than four inches nor more than seven inches in height and of proportionate width. (7) Stop Arm: All school buses shall have a stop arm that meets the requirements in OAR 581-053-0240 except that retroreflective material on the stop arm is not mandated on buses manufactured prior to October 21, 2011. (8) Wheelchair Restraint Systems: All buses manufactured prior to September 3, 1993, that are equipped to transport students in a wheel chair shall be retrofitted to meet the following requirements: (a) Each wheelchair location shall have not less than four wheelchair securement anchorages and shall be situated so that: (A) The wheel chair is secured in a forward-facing position; and (B) The wheelchair can be secured by wheelchair securement devices at two locations in the front and two locations in the rear. (b) Each wheelchair location shall have: (A) Not less than one anchorage for the upper end of the upper torso restraint; and (B) Not less than two floor anchorages for wheelchair occupant pelvic and upper torso restraint. (c) Wheelchair securement devices and an occupant restraint may share a common anchorage. (d) All components must conform to 49 CFR 571.222 School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection published in volume 58 of the Federal Register, September 3, 1993.