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

This rule makes a number of amendments to the agency's standard on bus emergency exits and window retention and release. Among other things, the amendments permit manufacturers to install two emergency exit windows as an alternative to an emergency exit door as the first means of satisfying recent requirements for additional emergency exits on school buses. The amendments also permit non-school buses to meet either the current non-school bus emergency exit requirements or the recently upgraded school bus requirements. These amendments will increase manufacturer flexibility in meeting emergency exit requirements while maintaining the existing level of safety. The amendments also modify the requirements specifying the number of additional exits that are required for school buses of varying capacity. These amendments will provide increased clarity and also ensure that manufacturers meet the recently upgraded requirements by providing additional emergency exits rather than by increasing the size of existing exits. The rule also makes a number of more minor amendments to the standard.