Interpretation ID: aiam2694
Secretary
Ford Garage Company
Inc.
109 Warren Street
Glens Falls
NY 12801;
Dear Mr. Jarvis: This responds to your September 27, 1977, letter asking whether a 1 passenger vehicle designed to transport children to and from a Y.M.C.A. recreation facility would be required to comply with the new Federal school bus safety standards.; The Federal school bus safety standards promulgated under the Moto Vehicle and Schoolbus Safety Amendments of 1974 (Pub. L. 92-492) apply to motor vehicles transporting 10 or more passengers to and from school or related events. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has tentatively concluded that facilities such as Y.M.C.A.s may not have been aware that school bus safety standards might be applicable to vehicles manufactured to transport children to and from these facilities. Accordingly, the agency has temporarily exempted from the requirements buses designed for use by such facilities.; You should note that the NHTSA plans to commence rulemaking that migh require buses used for activities such as those described to comply with the Federal school bus safety standards. The extended application of the standards would only affect buses manufactured after the effective date of the rulemaking action.; Sincerely, Joseph J. Levin, Jr., Chief Counsel