§ 171.61. Mirrors.
(a) Interior mirror. Every school bus shall be equipped with an interior mirror which shall be made of either clear view laminated glass or clear view glass bonded to backing which retains the glass in the event of breakage. The mirror shall have rounded corners and protected edges. Type A school buses shall have a mirror of at least 6 inches by 16 inches. Types B, C and D school buses shall have a mirror of at least 6 inches by 30 inches.
(b) Outside rearview mirrors. Each school bus shall have outside rearview mirrors of unit magnification, installed with stable supports on both sides of the vehicle. Each mirror shall have at least 50 square inches of reflective surface. The mirrors shall be located so as to provide the driver a view to the rear along both sides of the vehicle and shall be adjustable both in the horizontal and vertical directions to view the rearward scene.
(c) Outside cross view mirror. Each school bus, except one which is a forward control vehicle, shall have a convex mirror which complies with the following:
(1) The convex mirror shall have a radius of curvature not less than 3.5 inches and not more than 25 inches. A convex mirror whose radius of curvature at its periphery is not less than 12 inches and not more than 25 inches shall have a surface area which is not less than 40 square inches. A convex mirror whose radius of curvature at any point on the mirror is less than 12 inches shall have a projected area of not less than 40 square inches, measured on a plane at a right angle to the mirror’s axis. A convex mirror with a nonuniform radius shall comply with the following criteria:
(i) The radius at the periphery of the mirror may not be less than 75% of the radius at the center of the mirror.
(ii) Along the intersection of any plane containing the axis of symmetry of the mirror and the surface of the mirror, the length of the radius, as measured by a spherometer, shall be monotonically nonincreasing when moving from the axis of symmetry to the periphery along the intersection.
(iii) Along the intersection described in subparagraph (ii), the slope of the surface of the mirror may not have any discontinuities.
(2) The mirror shall be installed with a stable support, and mounted so as to provide the driver a view of the front bumper and the area in front of the bus.
(d) Prohibited mirrors. Stick-on convex mirrors and convex mirrors which are an integral part of the rear view mirror are prohibited.
Authority The provisions of this § 171.61 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § § 4103, 4551—4553 and 6103.
Source The provisions of this § 171.61 adopted August 19, 1983, effective August 20, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2561; readopted December 4, 1987, effective December 5, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 5052; amended September 13, 1996, effective September 14, 1996, 26 Pa.B. 4411. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (140085) to (140086).
Cross References This section cited in 67 Pa. Code § 171.22 (relating to fenders, front on Type C school buses).
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