That’s not quite true, at least not in Pennsylvania. Here are the definitions of the various school-related vehicles in PA, in lawyer speak. Notice the law quoted above only requires “school buses” to stop. Notice “school bus” is only defined as 11 or more passengers, but not busses of 11-15 passengers registered before 1993. Anything less than 11 passengers is a “school vehicle”, and by the law quoted above is not required to stop at grade crossings.
“School bus.” A motor vehicle which:
(1) is designed to carry 11 passengers or more, including the driver; and
(2) is used for the transportation of preprimary, primary or secondary school students to or from public, private or parochial schools or events related to such schools or
school-related activities.
The term does not include a motor vehicle used to transport preprimary, primary or secondary school students to or from public, private or parochial schools or events related to such schools or schoolrelated activities, which is designed to carry 11 to 15 passengers, including the driver, and which is registered in this Commonwealth as a bus prior to March 1, 1993, or a motor vehicle which is designed to carry 11 to 15 passengers, including the driver, and which was titled to any public, private or parochial school on or before March 1, 1993, and which is registered to that public, private or parochial school in this Commonwealth as a bus prior to September 15, 1993.
That’s not quite true, at least not in Pennsylvania. Here are the definitions of the various school-related vehicles in PA, in lawyer speak. Notice the law quoted above only requires “school buses” to stop. Notice “school bus” is only defined as 11 or more passengers, but not busses of 11-15 passengers registered before 1993. Anything less than 11 passengers is a “school vehicle”, and by the law quoted above is not required to stop at grade crossings.
“School bus.” A motor vehicle which:
(1) is designed to carry 11 passengers or more, including the driver; and
(2) is used for the transportation of preprimary, primary or secondary school students to or from public, private or parochial schools or events related to such schools or
school-related activities.
The term does not include a motor vehicle used to transport preprimary, primary or secondary school students to or from public, private or parochial schools or events related to such schools or schoolrelated activities, which is designed to carry 11 to 15 passengers, including the driver, and which is registered in this Commonwealth as a bus prior to March 1, 1993, or a motor vehicle which is designed to carry 11 to 15 passengers, including the driver, and which was titled to any public, private or parochial school on or before March 1, 1993, and which is registered to that public, private or parochial school in this Commonwealth as a bus prior to Sept
From the Highway Traffic Act of Manitoba (Canada)
“regulated school bus” means a school bus with a seating capacity of more than 10 including the driver;
Stops by certain vehicles at railways
135(1) Except as provided in subsections (3) and (4), the driver of
(a) a vehicle carrying passengers for compensation; or
(b) a school bus carrying children; or
(c) a vehicle carrying flammable liquids or gas, whether or not it is then empty;
approaching a railway crossing shall stop the vehicle not less than 5 metres, or more than 15 metres, from the nearest rail of the railway, and, with the vehicle stopped, shall
(d) look in both directions along the railway for an approaching train;
(e) listen for signals indicating the approach of a train; and
(f) in the case of a bus or school bus, open the door of the vehicle;
and he shall not proceed unless he can do so in safety.