A pupil transportation vehicle is a motor vehicle designed and constructed to seat not more than ten (10) passengers plus the operator, used by a school committee to provide the transportation services required by law or regulation to students being conveyed along a fixed school transportation route. In particular, such vehicles may be used to provide the transportation services required by § 16-21-1, § 16-21.1-1 et seq., and § 16-24-4 on routes in which only small numbers of students are being conveyed.