Sec. 4402. Illegal passing of schoolbuses
600 words·~3 min read·
/bill/117/hr/3684/eh/section-4402·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct research to determine— drivers’ knowledge of and attitudes towards laws governing passing of a school bus under the State in which the driver lives; the effectiveness of automated school bus camera enforcement systems in reducing school bus passing violations; whether laws that require automated school bus camera systems to capture images of a driver’s face impact the ability of States to enforce such laws; the effectiveness of public education on illegal school bus passing laws in reducing school bus passing violations; and the most-effective countermeasures to address illegal passing of school buses and best practices for States to reduce the number of illegal passing violations.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report detailing the research and findings required under paragraph (1). The Secretary shall make publicly available on the website of the Department the report required under paragraph
(2)not later than 30 days after the report is submitted under such paragraph. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall create and disseminate a public safety messaging campaign, including public safety media messages, posters, digital, and other media messages for distribution to States, divisions of motor vehicles, schools, and other public outlets to highlight the dangers of illegally passing school buses, including educational materials for students and the public on the safest school bus loading and unloading procedures. The Secretary shall consult with public and private school bus industry representatives and States in developing the materials and messages required under paragraph (1). The Secretary shall periodically update the materials used in the campaign. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete a review of advanced school bus safety technologies to assess their feasibility, benefits, and costs. The review shall include— an evaluation of motion-activated alert systems that are capable of detecting and alerting the school bus driver to students, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vulnerable road users located near the perimeter of the school bus; an evaluation of advanced school bus flashing lighting systems to improve communication to surrounding drivers; an evaluation of early warning systems, including radar-based warning systems, to alert school bus drivers and students near the school bus that an approaching vehicle is likely to engage in an illegal passing; and other technologies that enhance school bus safety, as determined by the Secretary. The Secretary shall make the findings of the review publicly available on the website of the Department not later than 30 days after its completion. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report examining State laws and driver education efforts regarding illegal passing of school buses. The report required under paragraph
(1)shall include— an overview of each State’s illegal school bus passing laws, including how the laws are enforced and what penalties are imposed on violators; a review of each State’s driver education efforts regarding illegal passing of school buses to determine how each State educates and evaluates new drivers on laws governing passing of a school bus; and recommendations on how States can improve driver education and awareness of the dangers of illegally passing school buses.