17.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a person shall not use or cause or permit to be used on a road a bus when it is carrying a child to or from his school unless—
(a)a prescribed sign is fitted to the front of the bus and is plainly visible to road users ahead of the bus; and
(b)a prescribed sign is fitted to the rear of the bus and is plainly visible to road users behind the bus.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply—
(a)where a bus is on a bus service of a description specified in paragraph 2 of Schedule 18 (bus services specified for the purposes of regulation 56(5)) to the Construction and Use Regulations; or
(b)where a bus is the property of an Education and Library Board and is painted in the distinctive livery of that Board.
(3) A prescribed sign shall be removed while any bus to which it has been fitted is being used for purposes other than carrying a child to or from his school.
(4) For the purposes of this regulation—
(a)a reference to a bus carrying a child to or from his school is a reference to a bus carrying a child—
(i)to, or to a place within the vicinity of, his school on a day during term time before he has attended the school on that day; or
(ii)from, or from a place within the vicinity of, his school on a day during term time after he has finished attending the school on that day;
(b)“school” has the same meaning as in Article 2(2) of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986(1); and
(c)a reference to a child is a reference to a child under the age of 16 years.