Section 447.1000  Purpose

 

This Part prescribes the requirements and procedures used to implement the Department's annual or 10,000 mile, whichever occurs first, school bus brake inspection program.

 

Section 447.1010  Applicability

 

This Part applies to the following persons:

 

a)         Department personnel;

 

b)         School bus owners or operators;

 

c)         Mechanics performing school bus brake inspections; and

 

d)         Certified Safety Testers at Illinois School Bus Official Testing Stations.

 

Section 447.1020  Definitions

 

            "Brake components" – Any component the manufacturer has determined necessary to satisfy regulations or standards (FMVSS or SAE) governing braking operations.

 

            "Certified Safety Tester" (CST) – An individual employed by an Official Testing Station who has passed a written exam and has demonstrated proficiency in the operation of authorized safety test equipment and has been issued evidence and authority by the Department to safety test vehicles in Illinois.

 

            "Code" – The  Illinois Vehicle Code [625 ILCS 5].

 

            "Department" – The Department of Transportation of the State of Illinois, acting directly or through its authorized agents or officers.  (Section 13-100 of the Code)

 

            "Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards" (FMVSS) – The rules, regulations and standards set forth in 49 CFR 571.

 

            "Officer" - An employee of the Illinois Department of Transportation.

 

            "Official Testing Station" – All contiguous real and personal property which houses the testing lane(s) and any and all equipment and supplies relating to the safety inspection of vehicles.

 

            "Society of Automotive Engineers" (SAE) – Society responsible for establishing industry standards which manufacturers follow in design and construction of motor vehicles.

 

            "School Bus" – Every motor vehicle, except as provided below, owned or operated by or for any of the following entities for the transportation of persons regularly enrolled as students in grade 12 or below in connection with any activity of such entity:

 

            Any public or private primary or secondary school;

 

            Any primary or secondary school operated by a religious institution; or

 

            Any public, private or religious nursery school.

 

            This definition shall not include the following:

 

            A bus operated by a public utility, municipal corporation or common carrier authorized to conduct local or interurban transportation of passengers when such bus is not traveling a specific school bus route but is:

 

            On a regularly scheduled route for the transportation of other fare paying passengers;

 

            Furnishing charter service for the transportation of groups on field trips or other special trips or in connection with other special events; or

 

            Being used for shuttle service between attendance centers or other educational facilities.

 

            A motor vehicle of the first division. (Section 1-182 of the Code.)

 

            "School Bus Brake Inspection Report" (see Section 447.Illustration A) – The form established by the Department to be used by school bus owners/operators to record school bus brake inspection requirements.  The Brake Inspection Report is presented to the CST at the Official Testing Station at the time of the safety inspection required by Section 13-101 of the Code.

 

            "Vehicle Inspection Report" – The form prescribed by the Department which is completed at the Official Testing Station when a vehicle is presented for a safety inspection.

 

Section 447.1030  Administrative Requirements

 

a)         The Department requires brakes on school buses operated in Illinois to be visually inspected every 10,000 miles or once a year (whichever occurs first).

 

b)         This brake inspection is separate from and in addition to the 10,000 mile or semi-annual safety inspection required by Section 13-101 of the Code.

 

c)         The brake components (e.g., linings, drums, hydraulic or air lines, wheel cylinders) must be visually inspected on each school bus.  This inspection usually requires the wheels to be pulled from the school bus. Some manufacturers have provided inspection ports on the wheels which can be used in lieu of pulling the wheels provided all applicable brake components can be properly inspected.

 

d)         The brake components must be inspected to verify the manufacturer's specifications are being met or exceeded at the time of the brake inspection.

 

e)         A school bus brake inspection report must be completed for each school bus inspected to document compliance with the manufacturer's specifications.

 

f)         The school bus brake inspection report (Section 447.Illustration A) contains the following information.  An original or photocopy of Section 447.Illustration A must be used to comply with this subsection.

 

1)         Name, address and phone number of the bus owner/operator;

 

2)         District or school served;

 

3)         School bus unit number;

 

4)         School bus chassis make;

 

5)         School bus chassis year;

 

6)         Vehicle Identification Number;

 

7)         Date and location of brake inspection; and

 

8)         Mileage on school bus at the time of brake inspection.

 

g)         The Brake Inspection Report must be signed and dated by an authorized official of the contractor or school district.  The authorized official takes full responsibility for the inspection of the braking system.

 

h)         A valid, properly completed Brake Inspection Report (see Section 447.Illustration A) must be presented to the CST at the time of the safety inspection required by Section 13-101 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.  This report must be retained at the Official Testing Station attached to the corresponding Vehicle Inspection Report.

 

i)          If the school bus has been driven less than 10,000 miles and less than 12 months have passed since the bus was manufactured, a brake inspection report is not required.  The CST should write "Less than 10,000 miles and less than one year old" in the Remarks Section on the Vehicle Inspection Report.

 

j)          For each school bus inspected, a separate maintenance record must be maintained which contains the following:

 

1)         Person(s) name performing the brake inspection and repairs, if necessary;

 

2)         Owner/operator of the school bus;

 

3)         Date of the brake inspection/repairs;

 

4)         Vehicle identification (i.e., year, make, model, Vehicle Identification Number);

 

5)         Mileage on the school bus at the time of the brake inspection; and

 

6)         Record of work performed on the bus in order to meet manufacturer's specifications (e.g., specific components repaired, replaced, adjusted, etc.).

 

k)         The maintenance records required in subsection (k) shall be retained where the vehicle is either housed or maintained for a period of one year and for six months after the school bus leaves the owner/operator's control.

 

l)          The maintenance records shall be available for inspection and audit by officers of the Department at any time.

Section 447.ILLUSTRATION A   School Bus Brake Inspection Report

 

Illinois Department

of Transportation

School Bus Brake

Division of Traffic Safety

Inspection Report

3215 Executive Park Drive

P.O. Box 19212

Springfield, Illinois 62794-9212

District or Contractor:

Name

Address

City/State

Zip

Telephone

(    )

School Bus Unit Number

Chassis Make

Chassis Year

Chassis V.I.N.

Illinois law requires all school buses to be safety inspected at least once every six months or 10,000 miles, whichever occurs first.  In addition, the Illinois Department of Transportation requires that a visual brake inspection be performed on every school bus operated in Illinois at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

A completed School Bus Brake Inspection Report must be presented to the Certified Safety Tester each time a school bus is taken to an Official Testing Station for a safety inspection.

I attest that the entire brake system on the school bus listed above was visually inspected and found to be operating in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications or was repaired to perform in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.  The visual inspection of the brake system was performed on _________________ by a qualified

(date)

mechanic employed by _________________________________________.  The mileage

(business/school district where brake inspection was completed)

on this school bus was______________ when the visual brake inspection was performed.

(mileage)

(name of authorized school district official or contractor) Please print or type

(date)

(signature of authorized school district official or contractor)

(title)