Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release

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In this document, NHTSA amends the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard on bus emergency exits and window retention and release to reduce the likelihood that wheelchair securement anchorages will be installed in locations that permit wheelchairs to be secured where they block access to emergency exit doors. Among other provisions, the final rule restricts, on new school buses, wheelchair securement anchorages from being placed in an area bounded by 305 mm (12 inches) forward and rearward of the center of the side emergency exit door aisle; and for the rear emergency exit door, an area bounded by a horizontal plane 1,145 mm (45 inches) above the bus floor and 305 mm (12 inches) forward of the bottom edge of the door opening (for school buses with a gross vehicle weight rating over 4,536 kg (10,000 lb)) and 150 mm (6 inches) forward of the bottom edge of the door opening (for school buses with a GVWR of 4,536 kg or less). Warning labels are specified for emergency exit doors and emergency exit windows not to block the exits. This final rule applies to school buses equipped with wheelchair securement anchorages. Nothing in this final rule requires school buses to be so equipped.