Interpretation ID: nht94-1.35

TYPE: Interpretation-NHTSA

DATE: January 31, 1994

FROM: Steve Williams -- Director, Public Transportation, Mississippi Department of Education

TO: William Moss -- Superintendent, Jones County School District

TITLE: None

ATTACHMT: Attached to letter dated 5/31/94 from John Womack to Mike Parker (A42; Std. 222; Part 571.3), letter dated 4/18/94 from Mike Parker to Christopher Hart, and letter dated 1/28/94 from Steve Williams to Terry L. Voy

TEXT:

On January 24, 1994, Jon Harper and I met with James Green, Transportation Director, and George Dukes, Chapter I Coordinator from your district, to discuss the installation of VCR's and TV monitors on school buses. Pursuant to our visit, I have contacte d school bus engineers which advise against such installation due to liability concerns. In addition, I am requesting an interpretation and opinion from the National Standards for School Buses and Operations Interpretation Committee to determine if the national school bus standards prohibit such installation (copy attached). The interpretation will clarify this matter because Mississippi bus standards are modeled after and based upon the national standards. My discussion with a representative from tha t committee indicated that without official testing and standardization procedures, such installation would probably not be advisable.

Until such time that we can receive the opinion based on the National Standards for School Buses and Operations, we cannot support and would advise against installation of VCR's and TV monitors. It is my understanding that a school district in Arizona h as installed such equipment. Nonetheless, it is incumbent upon our office to ensure that there is no violation of safety standards regarding the school buses that transport students to and from school or related activities.

We will advise you of the Interpretation Committee's opinion as we receive it. If you have any questions, please let me know.