Archives: School Bus Rules and Regulations

School buses constitute one of the safest forms of transportation in the United States.  A school bus is the safest vehicle on road which provides safety to your child more than travelling by car.

However, significant risks remain. Even with the tightened security children die each year on school transportation vehicles. That’s why safety standards for school fleets should be above and beyond than for regular buses.

Requirements of School buses

In US there is a specific standard that school fleets have to meet. Below described are the requirements and conditions that school fleets need attain to reach the standards

Colour and Identification

• School fleets should be painted National School Bus Yellow.
• Rub rails and bumpers should be painted gloss black.
• School fleets should have the words “SCHOOL BUS” printed on both front and rear of the body and it must be placed as high as possible so it would visible to others.
• District name and number should be placed below the window line on each side by minimum 4-inch letters.
• Contractor or Cooperative name should be placed below the window line on each side by minimum 4-inch letters.
• Wheels can be manufacturer’s standard colour, yellow or black.
• Reflective signs or decals should be planted to the rear of the bus and must measure a minimum of 400 square inches.

Interior and Exterior

• Bus interior should be free from all unnecessary projections, but this does not include baggage racks and attendant handrails.
• All walls from top to bottom of the windows should be covered with an unpainted enduring material.
• Ceilings should be constructed to contain lapped joints. Exposed edges should be hemmed, flanged or beaded.
• School fleets should be constructed in a way that noise level taken at the occupant nearest to the bus will not exceed 85dBA.
• Identification of individual student seating should be placed above windows in the passenger compartment.
• Outside storage compartment can contain flammables like aerosol cans and cleaners. Fuels must not be placed in the outside compartment.
• Surveillance cameras could be mounted on the side, front, back and/or mid ship of the bus, if mid ship, camera must be installed off centre and over a seat back. Pointy corners and sharp edges must be rounded or covered with protective material.
• Recording equipment should be placed in a manner which it does not turn out to be a tripping hazard.
• Exterior body must be free of all protuberances prone to snagging.
•  Fuel door latches can turn out to be a snagging hazard and must be detached.
• Exterior camera systems shall be established to view areas of restricted areas which are not visible outside the bus.
• The exterior surveillance system may be installed as a part of the interior rear view mirror in a manner which, it will not interfere with the normal use of the mirror when it’s inactive.

CAPACITY PLATE

• A label identifying the maximum design capacity of the bus should be incorporated in the fleet bona fides.

CERTIFICATION

School Bus

• Upon request the certification of body, chassis and after-market parts manufacturers shall be submitted to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to verify that the product meets all State and National School Transportation Specifications & Procedures on items not covered by certification issued under requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

School Bus Driver

• School fleet drivers are required to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in order to legally operate a bus. Each state has its own standards and qualifications for earning a CDL. Most of them require a driver to pass both driving test and a written test proving they know how to operate a large vehicle. Drivers are also required to earn a passenger vehicle (P) endorsement on their CDL if they want to work as a seasoned bus driver. School fleet drivers need an additional endorsement.

RESPOSIBILITIES

No matter how safe the vehicle is, if you are not responsible of your own, you are sure to get in trouble.

DRIVER

Drivers on road with school buses play a pivotal role in helping children get to their destination safely.

Students transported in the school must be under the authorization, and responsible directly to, the bus driver, and the driver should be held accountable for the orderly behaviour of the students while they are on bus or being escorted.

 Persistent chaotic conduct or continued refusal to submit to the authority of the driver shall be an adequate reason for a student to be denied transportation.

School bus drivers shall not allow any student to leave the bus en-route on any stop between home and school. School fleet drivers have few responsibilities to uphold when they are in duty

• Always obey the rules and regulations of the Highway Traffic Act.
• Should adhere to pick up, drop off points and bus schedules that have been established by the faculty.
• Bus drivers are not authorized to make changes in the routes, follow the routes that have been planned and approved by faculty except in unavoidable situations. Any deviation in the route must be reported to authorised people immediately.
• Refrain from swearing, using offensive and aggressive language or shouting.
• Notify the faculty in the event of an emergency or a breakdown.
• Fleet drivers must be sensitive in accordance with Privacy Procedure and the Freedom of Information.
• Should not idle the school bus under any circumstance.

Students

Students on the road have to follow certain rules to keep themselves save. Following are the responsibilities that students have to whilst riding the bus,

• Students must arrive at the bus stop on time. Last-minute arrivals create schedule delays, traffic hazards and pedestrian risks.
• Stand well back from the street until the bus has arrived, stopped and opened its door.
• Respect the tranquillity of the bus stop neighbourhood, fellow riders and their property.
• Immediately taking upon a seat use seat belts throughout the trip, until the bus has reached its destination.
• Remain in your seat, facing forward for the entire duration of the trip.
• Respect the window boundary, no body parts extended. Nothing shouted nor items tossed.
• Respect the personal space of other riders’. No physical or verbal attacks.  No taunts and bullying nor harassment.
• Do not interrupt the driver with your voice or actions.
• Do not meddle with bus controls, safety equipment and emergency exits.
• Do not undermine the safety or well-being of others.
• Do not bring dangerous or destructive objects onto the bus.
• Students must maintain cleanliness of the bus.

Parents

Parents/Guardians should be responsible in teaching their pupils about the manners they have to keep during their journey from home to school. Here are few responsibilities they must attend to ensure the safety of their child,

• It is recommend that parents/guardians should ensure their child will arrive safely at the assigned bus stops and make arrangements to receive pupil when they are returned to their bus stop at the end of the day.
• Parents are advised to teach their children about the traffic rules they have to follow while on road and inside bus.

Parents are suggested to notify the school administration of any negligence or offense from the bus driver.

A child’s safety is always close to a parent’s mind. Especially when handing over the care of their child to someone else, as in the case of school fleets which carries thousands of children each day. That’s why it’s a comfort to know that children travelling by bus are in safe hands. For this reason the govt. of Australia specifies a set of rules and regulations to ensure the safety of children on road.

School Bus Requirements

In Australia, the majority of schools rely on public transport services to transit children to and from school. Still, there are specific standards that school fleets have to meet. Below described are the requirements and conditions that school fleets need to attain the standards

• The internationally accepted safe colour for school vehicles is yellow and the transportation department has adopted that colour for all school-owned fleets
• School buses are required to bear 40 km/h (25 mph) speed limit signs on their rear and to flashing yellow lights on the front and rear
• A school bus should have well-padded higher backed seats because they reduce fatalities by 20%
• Even though standing in coaches is not sensible, school fleets should implement  hand support rails/hand-straps
• School buses should be clear off any protruding and hazardous tripping objects both inside and outside of the bus.

Australian school bus design is more focused on ensuring solid seats which do not fall apart or collapse in case of collision or sudden braking. But the survey conducted in 2003 showed that it would take a minimum of 20 years for the current school fleets to attain this standard.

But in these days both public and private Australian schools have transit style activity bus which even matches the school colours but more commonly with logo and name in front or side of the school bus.

Seat Belts

The normal school bus seats have been replaced with seat fitted with belts. Even though the current legislation does not require children to use seat belts in the school bus, but DECD foresees the students to start wearing them with safety in mind.

Booster Seats

Parents can install booster seats for their children if it is not safe for their children to wear seat belts while travelling (i.e., seat belt cuts across their throat). Parents can supply booster seats which meet Australian Design specifications.

Seating Positions

School buses which do not provide seat belts for children should employ double seats which are not less than 860mm in width, ensuring that

• The distance between the seat backs should not be greater than 100mm
• The space between should seat cushions should not go on over 50mm
• When three children occupy the space the seat back should remain in the upright position

First Aid Kits

First aid kits should be employed on all school fleets, and school bus drivers have to ensure that the kit is stocked and is present at the bus all the time.

Fire Extinguishers

All school fleets are compelled to carry fire extinguishers in Australia. A fire extinguisher which describes how to use it should be placed in a manner which is visible to everyone and ready to use.

Curtains & Tinted Windows

School buses are not given curtains that block the back view of the bus drivers. The windows of the school fleets should not have artificial tinting or stick on material, putting up curtains and tinted windows should be under permitted circumstances may be hazardous to the school trip.

Luggage Storage

Luggage racks should be installed in every school fleets and students should be advised to place their bag and other study equipment in the luggage rack. Other than study equipment luggage racks should not be used to carry other items that

School Bus Driver Requirements

In Australia for driving a school bus one should have a driving license of class code MR or HR (Medium Rigid or Heavy Rigid). A license with MR or HR class code can drive a bus or truck weighing over 8t GVM with more than 2 axles.

Driver Responsibilities

School bus drivers are in charge of the students while they’re in motion, but they are not allowed to carry out any strict disciplinary measure as punishment for bad conduct inside the measures.

• Drivers should always follow the rules established by the Road Traffic Act and should be courteous to other road users.
• Bus drivers are in charge of bus maintenance and parking. They should keep the fleets assigned to them safe for transporting peers safely every day.

Even though the school buses attain these requirements, without keeping proper conduct while travelling the above-stated rules will all go to waste.

Parents and guardians are in charge of students before and after school trips and they should teach their children about the behaviour they have to keep inside the school bus and the bus driver.

By the school buses satisfying the standards and the students following the rules, everyone can enjoy a secure and prosperous journey.

By the school buses satisfying the standards and the students following the rules, everyone can enjoy a secure and prosperous journey.

School buses provide safer and efficient transportation for students who are attending the schools. The Lebanese Ministry of transport has implemented strict rules for school buses which commutes students on a daily basis.

School bus requirements

• School bus windows should not be tinted and the use of window curtain is forbidden in Lebanon.
• The colour of the school bus should be yellow without any overlapping of other colours.
• The nonmetallic materials of the school bus like bumpers and letters can be painted black.
• The phrase school bus should be written in both Arabic and English and should be displayed in large black fonts.
• The letters should be of 20cm in height, not exceeding 1500 square cm and must be portrayed in the front, side and rear of the bus. 
• The school bus sign should be made of reflective material and must be placed on the right front side and the left rear side of the bus.
• The school bus drivers are required to be over 25yrs old and must have a driver’s license with the permit of a school bus.
• School bus drivers have to take a mandatory “School Bus driver’s Basic Course”.
• School buses are requested to possess fire extinguishers and first aid kits.

School Bus Interior

• The bus interior should be clear off every unwanted projection which is injurious to students.
• School bus interior must only consist of luggage racks and handrails, Luggage racks should only be used to carry study equipments other objects which are hazardous to the trip should not be carried in the luggage racks.
• The entrance door operation of the bus must be totally controlled by the bus driver.
• School buses are advised to install a cooling system which operates at a temperature not exceeding 24 degrees Celsius.
• The entrance and exit doors should be implemented with handrails to support the boarding process.
• The distance between bus seats should not exceed 40cm, triple seats are prohibited.

Safety Standards

• Stop arms should be installed on the side of the driver entrance indicating the passing of students.
• The school bus must be manufactured with multiple mirrors (both inside and outside) So that the driver could get a comprehensive view of the school bus and its surroundings.
• School buses should be loaded with flashing lights, brake lights, and indicators.
•  Crossbars are not allowed on windows in Lebanon school buses.
• Other than the exit and entry doors school buses are required to have an emergency exit in case of any unplanned instance.
• The controls of the emergency exit should be manufactured so that the door won’t open up accidentally.
• School bus speed limit should not exceed 80km/hr at all times.

Responsibilities of School Bus Drivers

• School bus drivers are in charge of the students while on board, If a student misbehaves in a manner disturbing the balance of conduct on a bus, Then that student can be ruled out of school transportation.
• Drivers are instructed to seat boys and girls separately. Mixed seating is prohibited in Lebanon; boys should be seated at the front and the girls in the back.
• School bus drivers are in charge of the supervision of the bus assigned to them. They have to carry out the maintenance work per each 10,000 km compulsorily.

Responsibilities of Parents and Students

No matter how much safety measures we take to keep the bus journey safe if a student does not live up to the conduct needed to keep while on the journey. Then the entire preparation is gone onto waste.

So parents are in charge of educating their children on how to behave in such situations.

•  Parents much educate their children about traffic rules at home.
• Parents much teach their children how to behave in the school bus and around bus drivers.
• The students are advised to behave properly on the school bus. Follow the behavioural conduct introduced by the ministry of education in Lebanon.
• Students are not allowed to put their body parts out and disturb other motorists on road.

Students are in charge of keeping the bus clean and if they find the vehicle untidy, they are instructed to inform the faculty at once. School buses are advised compulsorily to attain the school fleet standards to commute students on a daily basis, otherwise, the Lebanese Transport Ministry is bound to take strict measures against school fleets which do not satisfy the standards.

In 1991 the Dutch Ministry of transport came out with a policy for school going students known as the student pass. Since the implementation of the student passes Dutch students have been benefitting from the free transport.

The student passes allow the students to board any public or private buses any day in a week. Student passes were cheaper to administer and much straightforward than older transport allowances.

The Dutch are always on the move trying every innovation as possible. Such an innovation was the bicycle school bus.

 Nearly half of the Dutch population use bicycle as their daily transportation system and implementing the student bicycle was a revolutionary way to redesign the classic yellow school bus further greening mass transit.  

Even though such innovations have made an impact there exist schools, which use school buses to safely transport their peers daily. Such school fleets are required to satisfy certain standards approved by the Dutch Ministry of Transport

School Bus Requirements

Visual Signs

• Red light emitting flashes (2 each) should be mounted on the front and rear of the school bus.
• “STOP WHEN RED LIGHTS FLASHING” and “DO NOT PASS WHEN    SIGNALS FLASHING” signs must be illustrated on the rear of the bus with block letters at least 75 millimeters and height, not below 15 centimeters

Bus Colour

If the buses sole purpose is to transport school going students then the fleets should be painted chrome yellow or school bus yellow. Other buses rather than school fleets should not be painted yellow, and these buses should only be used for transporting students.

Fire Extinguisher

A Fire Extinguisher which is rated above 2A-10BC and a design type approved by U.L.C, U.L. or, F.M. should be placed in a manner which is visible and available to everyone on the bus.

First Aid Kits

A First Aid Kit labelled with instructions on how to use the contents inside the box should be kept in either a metal case or pillow type case near the driver compartment. The First Aid Kit should consist of the following,

A packet of 4 containing 12 gauze cleansing pads, 4 hand cleansers

• Individually wrapped 150 adhesive dressings, 6 compress dressings (10 centimetres) and 8 compress dressings (5 centimetres).
• Dressing kits of two containing 2 gauze pads, one eye shield, 2 gauze bandages, and 3 gauze dressings
• Kept in packets 1 adhesive tape, 6 triangular bandages, one pair scissor, one pair silver tweezers, 12 safety pins, 1metal splint
• Kept in packets 1 adhesive tape, 6 triangular bandages, one pair scissor, one pair silver tweezers, 12 safety pins, 1metal splint

Doors & Windows

The doorway should be established at the front of the school bus in a manner which can be accessed from inside and outside the vehicle with ease.

• The door controls of a school bus should be designed in a manner, to be controlled by the bus driver in case of an accidental opening.
• Emergency Exits should be located at the rear left side of the vehicle, provided with a fastening device for a quick release but safeguarded against unexpected openings.
• Windows should be implemented with cross rails across them and should not be tainted.
• The entrance, emergency exits and the passageway of the school bus should have at least 30cm clearance space.
• Every school bus should exhibit a sheet authorized by the Minister of Education on the entrance, which bears instruction to school children on the conduct they have to keep while boarding, departing and on the bus.

Stop Arms

Stop Arms with flashing lights must be implemented in the driving side of the bus; while the stop arm is activated no vehicle should pass by or overtake the halted bus.

School Bus Body

• School bus body should be constructed in a manner to conclude proper and adequate ventilation.
• The floor partition between the bus body and the engine compartment should be properly insulated and constructed in a manner that exhaust gases will not enter the inside of the bus.
• The school bus interior should be free of every unwanted projection which is hazardous to the students. The interior can consist of luggage racks and handrails.
• Luggage racks should be used only to carry student bags and study material, other than this equipment, no other objects which are likely to injure the students should not be carried.
• The bus interior should be completely lighted with illumination lights.

Duties and Driving Behaviours

• School bus drivers are in complete charge of the students while on a bus. If any student is found guilty in keeping the conduct intact, the school bus driver can reject the transportation service for the student.
• School Bus drivers should always follow traffic rules in school neighbourhoods and city regions. If students are found in dangerous situations due to harsh driving, the driver license can be effectively removed instantly.
• Bus drivers are in charge of the school fleet maintenance, they are responsible for keeping the vehicle safety proofed so that students can be commuted daily

If the School buses attain the requirements established by the Dutch Ministry of transport, then the buses provide effective and secure transportation for students daily. 

• Every school bus should be painted in yellow colour
• “School Bus” should be written on the front and back of the bus. And if it’s a hired one, “On School Duty” should be displayed on the school bus
• A school bus should have a first aid box and a fire extinguisher for handling emergency situations
• School bus windows should have horizontal grills
• There should be a speed governor in every school bus
• The name and telephone number of the school should be shown on the school bus
• A school bus door should have a reliable lock attached to it
• Sufficient space should be provided for students to keep their belongings
• A qualified attendant should be appointed in every school bus
• Any parent, guardian or a teacher should accompany school bus children for ensuring better safety
• A school bus driver should have at least 5 years of driving experience and
• No driver who is punished for offences such as over speeding, drunken driving, etc. should be employed

• The word “School Bus” should be displayed on the front and back of the bus
• If the bus is a hired one, “On School Duty” should be shown clearly on the bus
• Every school bus should have a first aid box compulsorily
• Horizontal grills should be fitted in every school bus windows for better student safety
• There should be a fire extinguisher in a school bus
• The name of the school and their telephone number should be clearly indicated on the bus
• School bus doors should be attached with a strong lock
• A separate space should be provided under the seats to keep belongings of students safely
• There should be an attendant in every school bus
• A parent, guardian, or a teacher can accompany students to ensure safety norms

• Every school bus should be painted with yellow colour
• “School Bus” should be clearly indicated on the front and back of the bus
• There should be a speed governor in every school bus with a speed limit of 40km/hr
• If the students’s age is below 12 years old, the number of children should not surpass 1 1/2 times the allowed seating capacity
• School bus driver should have a valid license for a period of at least four years
• Space should be provided to students for keeping their bags safely
• A complete list of students with their name, address, blood groups, and pickup point should be kept in a school bus
• A first aid box and a fire extinguisher should be kept in a school bus
• There should be a bus attendant in every school bus
• A parent, guardian, or a teacher can travel in a school bus for ensuring better student safety

• “School Bus” should be written clearly on the front and back of the bus
• No school bus should carry children more than it is allowed
• All school bus windows should be fitted with horizontal grills
• School bus doors should have a safe and solid lock systems
• Every school bus should compulsorily have a first aid box and a fire extinguisher
• The name of the school and its contact details should be displayed on the bus
• There should be sufficient space provided to students for keeping their bags safely
• A parent or a teacher should accompany students in the school bus
• School bus drivers should have a minimum 5 years of experience in driving
• Every school bus should have a valid insurance certificate and a pollution under control certificate

• Every school should provide sufficient number of school buses and it must contain an adequate number of seats to accommodate all students in the bus
• School bus maintenance works should not be carried out inside the school campus
• School bus operators should have a complete list of students in the school bus and their contact numbers
• Every school bus must satisfy the govt approved safety standards and technical specifications
• Always appoint a driver with school bus driver permit issued by the Government and a co-ordinator to manage school transportation related activities well
• There must be a seat for every student in a school bus
• All drivers should receive special training conducted by the Transportation Department
• A record should be kept for showing school bus related accidents and complaints
• A female school bus attendant should be appointed in a school bus, which carry children less than 11 years of age
• It is necessary to conduct daily inspections before taking the bus for trip. Lights, seats, vehicle body and tires should be checked well by school authorities before starting a school bus trip
• When every students get down from the bus, ‘ No Students On Board’ should be displayed at the rear side of a school bus
• No students are allowed to stand on the bus when a school bus is in motion
• Every school bus should have adequate first aid supplies and a fire extinguisher
• Before a school bus journey, make sure that entrance, exit, aisles and emergency doors are not blocked
• All school buses should be cleaned and temperature inside buses should be maintained between 24-21 degrees
• No school bus should exceed the maximum speed limit and never exceed speed more than 80 km/hr at any cost
• School bus drivers should use crossing arms and warning lights while students are crossing the road
• No students should be allowed to depart from a school bus other than the assigned stop
• School bus staffs should maintain a professional behavior and wear imputed uniforms while they are on duty
• Eating, drinking and using a telephone is not permitted while the bus is in motion
• Smoking is not allowed inside the school bus
• Every student in the school bus should use the seat belt provided to them
• Always ensure that no students are left behind after reaching the final destination
• School bus drivers should help students in crossing the road and evacuating a bus at the time of emergencies
• Make students aware of crossing the road safely and use the school bus properly and organise certain recreation programs that makes their journey interesting
• Ensure that contact information of each student is impeccable and up-to-date
• Heavy fines will be imposed to students who tries to damage the school bus
• The body of a school bus must be painted in yellow colour
• There should be double flashing lights- red double lights on the uppermost part of the bus and yellow double lights on the lower part of the bus, which operate automatically when the door of a school bus opens or reverses
• The inscription “School Bus” should be displayed both in English and Arabic language and it should have at least 20cm height. This must be placed between two upper flashing lights or anywhere on the upper part of a bus both on the front and rear part of the bus
• School bus number along with operator’s name and contact number should be shown both on the left and right rear of the bus. The printed letters must be black in colour and have a height of at least 12cm height
• School name should be shown in the middle of a school bus in black letter on both sides and height of the letters should not be less than 20cm
• School crossing sign should be displayed both on the front right side and left rear of a school bus
• The width of a school bus door must be between 65cm and 80cm and it must operate automatically
• Steps used in school bus should be well lit and have non slippery surface
• There should be a three point safety belt attached to every school bus driver’s seat
• Student seats requirements
  • Should be fixed
  • Free from sharp edges
  • Seat handle must be covered with material to prevent injury
  • Dimensions- Height of the seat should be 40-45cm from the bus floor, width and depth should be less than 38cm and height of seat back should be less than 70cm
  • Distance between seats must be between 64cm and 62cm
  • Special area should be provided for students using wheelchairs
  • No extra seats should be fitted above permitted capacity
• The width of bus aisle must be less than 35cm. It must be covered with fire resistant and non-slippary coverings
• No curtains should be used on school bus windows
• Every school bus should be provided with air conditioning device, GPS device and CCTV system
• The depth of school bus steps must never be less than 25cm and height of the first step must not be greater than 30cm
• All school buses should have an antilock braking system and emergency hammers that can be used to break glasses easily in emergency situations

• The colour of the school bus should be painted yellow
• The phrase “School Bus” should be displayed on the right front and on the left rear side of the bus both in English and Arabic with a font size more than 80 inches and the phrase along with bus operator’s name should not exceed 1500 square cm.
• An Electronic Stop Rod must be fitted behind the driver’s door with the red lights flashing whenever the school bus sops
• No bars should be placed externally or internally on school bus windows and curtains are also not allowed on school bus windows
• School bus number number should be written on the uppermost side of the left rear side and on the right rear side
• Mirrors should be placed in such a way that all sides of the bus can be seen well
• A cooling system should be there in every school bus, whose temperature do not exceed 24 degrees
• There should be a compartment in the school bus for keeping student bags safely and it should not obstruct the movement of students
• The two doors in a school bus should be fixed with handrails that helps students to get on and off the bus comfortably
• School bus isle should be covered with inflammable and non-slippery rubber
• The speed of a school bus should not be more than 80km per hour and there should be a speed controlling device attached to the bus
• Every school bus should have first aid kits proportionate to the number of seats
• There should be a manual fire extinguisher fitted in every school bus
• No school bus should be older than 15 years from the manufactured date
• Emergency exits must be proportionate to the number of passengers in the school bus
• Every school bus should have 2-buckle safety belts and drivers should have 3- point safety belt
• No sharp edges should be there inside or outside the school bus
• A qualified or trained personnel should be appointed as school bus supervisors
• School bus seats should be allocated to students in the beginning of the academic year with the co-operation from school principals and drivers. Each student should have a seat in the bus
• Front seats should be allotted to boys and back seats should be allotted to girls
• A female school bus conductor should be there in every school bus and must have age more than 25 years
• No school bus maintenance works must be carried out inside the school compounds
• Drivers as well as other school bus staffs should always keep up clean garments while engaging in school transportation activity
• No smoking, eating or drinking is allowed while the bus is in motion
• Every school bus should be kept clean and tidy
• A school bus driver should have UAE driving license and he should not have any criminal records
• The age of a school bus driver should not be below 25 years and he must know English and Arabic languages
• All school bus drivers must pass school bus driving course conducted by a recognized agency and his driving permit should not be expired even for a month