§ 71.4. Driver’s examination.
(a) General rule. The examinations required by § § 75.4—75.6, 75.23 and 75.26—75.28 will be given by the Department or an authorized agent to every applicant for an S endorsement.
(b) Recertification examination. The recertification skills evaluation will be given by the Department or an authorized agent to every holder of an S endorsement every 4 years.
(1) The recertification skills evaluation shall be administered by one of the following methods:
(i) An on-road instructor shall evaluate the driving skills in conjunction with the completion of the required 3 hours of on-road training. The instructor shall certify on a form provided by the Department that the driver has demonstrated proficiency in the driving skills provided in paragraph (2).
(ii) An on-road instructor or third party tester shall evaluate the driving skills during a regular bus run with students on board. The instructor or third party tester shall certify on a form provided by the Department that the driver has demonstrated proficiency in the driving skills provided in paragraph (2).
(iii) An on-road instructor or third party tester shall complete the recertification skills evaluation as a school bus, safety-specific skills test. The instructor or third party tester shall certify on a form provided by the Department that the driver has demonstrated proficiency in the driving skills provided in paragraph (2).
(iv) A Department driver license examiner shall complete the recertification skills evaluation as a school bus, safety-specific skills test. The driver license examiner shall certify on a form provided by the Department that the driver has demonstrated proficiency in the driving skills provided in paragraph (2).
(2) The recertification skills evaluation shall be administered in three parts: a safety inspection, a basic skills test and an on-road driving test. The entire examination shall be administered. If the driver fails a portion of the test, the driver may return on another day and retake only that portion which the driver failed.
(i) The safety inspection shall be the first part of the recertification skills evaluation. The driver will be given one point for each item that is correctly inspected. A passing score is 12 or more correctly inspected items. Inability to correctly perform the air brake check in clause (M) will result in automatic failure of this portion. The driver shall check the following safety equipment:
(A) 8-way lighting system.
(B) Headlights, low and high beams.
(C) Turn signals.
(D) Identification and side marker lights.
(E) Hazard warning system.
(F) Tail lights.
(G) Stop lights.
(H) Seats, condition and mounting.
(I) Fire extinguisher.
(J) First aid kit.
(K) Axe or pry bar.
(L) Portable emergency warning devices.
(M) Hydraulic brake or air brake.
(N) Emergency brake.
(O) Tires and the emergency door warning sound.
(ii) The basic skills test shall be the second part of the recertification skills evaluation. The test will consist of two exercises. The driver’s score will be based on the number of errors committed in each exercise. An accumulation of three errors or more in either exercise will constitute a failed test. Inability to perform clause (A)(III), (V), (VII) or (X) will result in automatic failure of this portion. The exercises are:
(A) Simulated or actual student discharge.
(I) 150'—300' activate amber warning lights.
(II) Check traffic.
(III) Come to a complete stop, apply emergency brake, transmission in neutral.
(IV) Open door slightly, activating red lights and stop arm.
(V) Check traffic (during stop).
(VI) Open door completely.
(VII) Check all mirrors around vehicle for students.
(VIII) Shut door—deactivate red lights.
(IX) Check mirrors, put transmission in gear; release brake.
(X) Check child safety, recheck mirrors and proceed.
(B) Simulated or actual railroad crossing.
(I) While approaching, activate 4-way hazard lights.
(II) Stop between 15'—50' from nearest rail.
(III) Apply parking brake, transmission in neutral.
(IV) Open door and window.
(V) Look and listen.
(VI) Close door.
(VII) If clear, put in gear and release parking brake.
(VIII) Proceed across tracks without shifting gears.
(IX) Deactivate 4-way hazard lights after crossing tracks.
(iii) The on-road driving test shall be the third part of the recertification skills evaluation. The driver’s score will be based on the number of errors committed during the test. An accumulation of 11 errors or more will constitute a failed test. An automatic failure will occur if the driver commits any traffic offense, runs over a curb or sidewalk, or causes an accident. Evaluation and scoring will be based on maneuvers which shall include the following:
(A) Driving and demonstrating stopping and starting a minimum of two times.
(B) Driving and executing left and right turns a minimum of two times.
(C) Driving and demonstrating merging into traffic from a stop sign or yield sign.
(D) Demonstrating driving ability at an intersection a minimum of two times.
(E) Demonstrating driving ability in the local area.
(F) Demonstrating general driving behavior.
(c) Application for examination. Application for a driver’s examination shall be made on a form obtainable from the Department.
(d) Additional examination. An additional examination will be given upon request of a person who fails a driver’s examination or recertification skills evaluation. A school bus driver who fails a recertification skills evaluation three times shall surrender the S endorsement to the person conducting the examination. An applicant who fails a driver’s examination three times shall surrender his permit to the person conducting the examination.
(e) Reinstatement. A school bus driver whose S endorsement has been invalidated or suspended shall undergo and successfully pass a driver’s examination before the S endorsement is reinstated.
Authority The provisions of this § 71.4 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § § 1504(c), 1509 and 6103.
Source The provisions of this § 71.4 adopted September 23, 1977, effective September 24, 1977, 7 Pa.B. 2702; amended March 23, 1979, effective July 1, 1979, 9 Pa.B. 1073; amended May 10, 1985, effective May 11, 1985, 15 Pa.B. 1750; readopted May 11, 1990, effective immediately and apply retroactively to May 11, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 2524; amended May 25, 1990, effective May 26, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 2767; amended January 13, 1995, effective January 14, 1995, 25 Pa.B. 160. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (150695) to (150696).
Cross References This section cited in 67 Pa. Code § 71.3 (relating to physical examination).
No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.
This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.
