(a) Each town, or local or regional board of education may when providing for the transportation of children to and from school or school activities, in accordance with the provisions of sections 10-47 or 10-220 , authorize the operator of any vehicle owned, leased or hired by or operated under contract with such town, local or regional board of education to travel on any private road, provided the owner or owners thereof consent to such travel and such roads have been constructed and are maintained in accordance with the standards for the construction and maintenance of similar roads of the municipality wherein such private road lies, as determined by the chief executive officer of such municipality or his designee.
(b) No town, or local or regional board of education or member thereof nor the school bus owner or operator authorized thereby shall be liable to any person for personal injuries received while being transported to or from school or school activities on a private road in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, provided the proximate cause of such injuries was the negligent construction or maintenance of such private road.