OOSC, Part II, Item 16. Buses, Motorcoaches, Passenger Vans......a. Emergency Exits - Difficult to Open/Functional

Today I stopped a 27 passenger bus that was being used in an assisted living facility to transport elderly people back and forth from doctor’s appointments. During the inspection I asked the driver to open the four emergency windows that were clearly marked as such. The driver clearly struggled to open each window (see the attached video). The amount of force the driver was using literally had the bus rocking back and forth as he attempted to open them. It was apparent that an elderly person being transported on that bus would not have been able to open it. I often stop these buses as they are also used in daycare operations and party bus operations. More often than not the emergency windows are stuck and will not freely open. In these instances, a 9 to 10 year child or an elderly person would not be able to open the emergency exits.

In this instance the driver was a 5ft 10in 230lb male who was attempting to open the window. In looking at previous and current OOS criteria, as long as the exits open and close as designed there is no violation.

Review attached video and advise on whether or not this should or shouldn't be a OOS violation.