How to Fill Out Form DL-739

Form DL-739 at a glance

What it is: School Bus Accident Report: refer to the instructional packet (DL-739A) if clarification is needed when completing this form; answer each section applicable to the accident; if additional information is necessary, attach a sheet to original.

Where and when to file: Return To: Special Driver Programs, Bureau of Driver Licensing, P.O. Box 68684, Harrisburg, PA 17106-8684. Return Within 5 Days.

A filled-in Form DL-739 example: a school district reports a backing accident

Form DL-739 example filled out, example: a school district reports a backing accident
A school district reports a school bus accident on this form. On March 3, 2026, a driver backing a bus hit a post, and nobody was hurt. The picture shows the filled form, and every value in it is made up. The driver is Sam E Sample, and the transportation director, Jane Q Sample, signs on March 5, 2026. Backing is checked in Causes, Check all that Apply because backing is the only cause. Nothing goes in Purpose for Transporting, or in Weather, Visibility, Road Condition and Light, because the fillable form gives its option buttons no field names. Number of Students stays empty because the bus carried only the driver. The Injuries and Fatalities number lines stay empty because nobody was hurt. Nothing goes in Police Report Number because no police report was made. Nothing goes in Supplement to Item 29 (collision with another M/V) because no other motor vehicle was involved.

How to fill out Form DL-739, box by box

School District, Intermediate Unit and Bus Owner

Form DL-739 example filled out, school District, Intermediate Unit and Bus Owner

Enter the School District and the Intermediate Unit.

Bus Owner: School District, Contractor, Intermediate Unit, Other (specify) or Unknown.

Date of Crash, Day of Crash and Time of Crash

Form DL-739 example filled out, date of Crash, Day of Crash and Time of Crash

Enter the Date of Crash.

Day of Crash: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday/Sunday.

Time of Crash: Midnight - 6 a.m., 6 a.m. - 9 a.m., 9 a.m. - 11 a.m., 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m., 3 p.m. - 6 p.m., 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. or 8 p.m. - Midnight.

Location by State and Location by County

Form DL-739 example filled out, location by State and Location by County

Enter the Location by State and the Location by County.

Purpose for Transporting

Form DL-739 example filled out, purpose for Transporting

Purpose for Transporting: Regular Route, Activity Trip, Other (specify) or Unknown.

Bus Occupied By and Vehicle Make

Form DL-739 example filled out, bus Occupied By and Vehicle Make

Bus Occupied By: Unoccupied, Driver Only, Driver/Students, Students Only - (Give total number of students) or Unknown.

Enter the Vehicle Make.

Vehicle Capacity: Type I, Type II, School Vehicle or Unknown.

Vehicle Age: 2 years or less, 2-5 years, 5-8 years, Over 8 years or Unknown.

Driverʼs Name and Driverʼs Operator Number

Form DL-739 example filled out, driverʼs Name and Driverʼs Operator Number

Enter the Driverʼs Name and the Driverʼs Operator Number.

Weather, Visibility, Road Condition and Light

Form DL-739 example filled out, weather, Visibility, Road Condition and Light

Weather: No Adverse Condition, Raining, Snowing, Sleet/Hail, Fog/Smoke, Other (specify) or Unknown.

Visibility: Unrestricted, Hill, Curve, Other (specify) or Unknown.

Road Condition: Dry, Wet, Muddy, Snow/Ice, Other (specify) or Unknown.

Light: Daylight, Dark, Artificial or Other (specify).

Collision With

Form DL-739 example filled out, collision With

Collision With: Non-Collision, Fixed Object, Train, Animal, Pedestrian, Motor Vehicle (M/V) - Car, Bus, Truck, Motorcycle, etc. (If M/V, complete supplement - Item 36.) or Other (specify).

Causes, Check all that Apply

Form DL-739 example filled out, causes, Check all that Apply

Causes, Check all that Apply: Follow Too Close, Too Fast for Conditions, Improper Pass, Improper Backing, Improper Right Turn, Improper Left Turn, Improper Stop, Improper Loading, Inattention, Right of Way, Mechanical Defect or Other (specify).

Police Report

Form DL-739 example filled out, police Report

Police Report: No, Yes - Give Report Number or Unknown.

Any Traffic Citation Issued? No, Yes or Unknown.

Injuries and Fatalities

Form DL-739 example filled out, injuries and Fatalities

Injuries/Fatalities: No or Yes (If yes, complete supplement - Item 35).

35. Supplement to Item 11 A. Injuries: None, Bus Driver, Student(s)-Number, Other Vehicle - Occupant(s)-Number, Pedestrian(s)-Number or Other (specify).

Fatalities: None, Bus Driver, Student(s)-Number, Other Vehicle - Occupant(s)-Number, Pedestrian(s)-Number or Other (specify).

At Scene First Aid Administered: No, None or Unknown. Medical Assistance Summoned: No, None or Unknown.

Supplement to Item 29 (collision with another M/V)

Form DL-739 example filled out, supplement to Item 29 (collision with another M/V)

Supplement to Item 29 (collision with another M/V): 1-A. Other Driverʼs Name, B. Other Driverʼs Operator Number, C. Other Vehicle, Type, Make, Model.

(If Required): 2-A. Other Driverʼs Name, B. Other Driverʼs Operator Number, C. Other Vehicle, Type, Make, Model.

If more than 2 other motor vehicles are involved, attach separate sheet giving information as shown in (A), (B), (C).

Report Submitted By

Form DL-739 example filled out, report Submitted By

SIGN as Report Submitted By (signature) and enter the Date.

Enter the Name (please print), the Position (please print) and the Phone Number.

More rules for Form DL-739

Type or print all information in blue or black ink.

Driverʼs Age: 16-17, 18-19, 20-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-59, 60-74, or 75 or over.

Years Driving a Bus: 1 or less, 1 - 2, 3 - 4, 5 - 10 or Over 10.

Driverʼs Condition: Normal, Sick, Impaired, Fatigue or Other (specify).

Driverʼs Status: Instructor, Instructor Coordinator or Neither.

Highway Type: Divided, Not Divided, Non-Highway or Unknown.

Highway Lanes: 1, 2, 3, 4 or More or Not Applicable.

Posted Speed Limit: Not Applicable, Under 20 MPH, 20 - 35 MPH, 40 - 45 MPH, 50 - 55 MPH or Over 55 MPH.

Damage (bus): $100 or less; $100 - $500; $500 - $2,000; $2,000 and Up; None or Unknown (checked November 2, 2026).

Damage (all other): $100 or less; $100 - $500; $500 - $2,000; $2,000 and Up; None or Unknown (checked November 2, 2026).

Common questions about Form DL-739

Is there a deadline?

Return Within 5 Days.

Where do I file it?

Return To: Special Driver Programs, Bureau of Driver Licensing, P.O. Box 68684, Harrisburg, PA 17106-8684.

Sources

[1] Form DL-739 (1-08), School Bus Accident Report, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (the Official source link on this page).

Dl 739 Form PDF Details

The DL-739 form, titled "School Bus Accident Report", is an essential document for reporting any accidents involving school buses within a specified timeframe. Required to be completed in blue or black ink, this form necessitates detailed information concerning the incident, including the school district, the owner of the bus—whether it's the district itself, a contractor, or another entity—and specifics about the crash, such as the date, time, and location. Critical details such as the type of crash, the purpose of the trip, any injuries or fatalities, and conditions at the time of the accident, like weather and road conditions, must be meticulously filled out. Additionally, information about the bus driver, including their name, age, driving experience, and condition at the time of the crash, is required. This form serves as a comprehensive report that aids in the analysis and prevention of future bus accidents by gathering exhaustive data on various aspects of the incident. It must be returned to the Bureau of Driver Licensing in Harrisburg, PA, within five days, making it a time-sensitive document. Thus, it stands as a critical tool in ensuring the safety of school transportation and facilitating necessary investigations and responses following accidents.

QuestionAnswer
Form NameDl 739 Form
Form Length3 pages
Fillable?No
Fillable fields0
Avg. time to fill out45 sec
Other names739 form, pa school bus accident report form, penn dot form dl 739, school bus accident report form dl 739