Sec.14-275a-58. Lamps and signals

(a) Each school bus shall be equipped with the following stop and tail lamps:

1. Two (2) red, stop lamps, with a minimum diameter of seven (7) inches, or if a shape other than round, a minimum of 38 square inches of illuminated area, shall be mounted on the rear at a height of no less than fifteen (15) inches nor more than seventy-two (72) inches above the level surface upon which the loaded bus rests, with centers as far apart laterally as is practical. They shall be activated upon application of the service brake pedal. In lieu of the seven inch stop lamps, combination stop and tail lamps, with a minimum diameter of seven (7) inches, or if a shape other than round, a minimum of 38 square inches of illuminated area, may be used; and

2. Two combination stop and tail lamps, with a minimum of four (4) inches, or if a shape other than round, a minimum of twelve (12) square inches of illuminated area, shall be placed on the rear of the body between the belt line and the floor line. Stop lamps shall be activated by the service brakes and shall emit a steady light when illuminated. Type A-1 buses, with bodies supplied by chassis manufacturer, may be equipped with the manufacturer's standard stop and tail lamps.

(b) A stop semaphore and eight lamp warning system shall be provided as follows:

1. The stop semaphore shall be of the type with two (2) flashing red lamps and have an override in the rearward direction. The flashing red lamps shall be of the same design lamp as those used in the eight (8) lamp warning system, including the flash type, unless a more prominent type lamp is available.

2. The eight (8) lamp warning system shall consist of four (4) red warning lamps and four (4) amber warning lamps installed as follows:

(A) A black hood or hoods may be provided for each lamp or pair of lamps respectively of the eight (8) lamp warning system and shall project outward from the bus body no less than four (4) inches. Hoods shall be securely fastened to the lamp housing or bus body. The area around the lens of the eight (8) lamp warning system shall be black extending outward approximately one (1) inch, when such room is available, but in no case less than point fifty (0.50) inches, applied on the body or the roof area against which the signal lamps are seen.

(B) The eight (8) lamp warning system shall be equipped with a visual indication that each warning lamp is functioning properly or improperly. The visual indication shall allow the driver to determine specifically which individual lamp or lamps are not functioning properly without leaving the driver's seat.

(C) The eight (8) lamp warning system shall operate as follows:

(i) With the master switch on and entrance door closed, activation of the foot or hand switch shall cause the amber signals and operational indicator light to function.

(ii) Operational indicator light and amber signal lamps shall go off and operational indicator light and red signal lamps shall go on automatically with the opening of the door or by means of an override switch. Stop arm, if air, vacuum or electrically powered, shall automatically extend simultaneously. Buses with power doors shall have an override switch to activate the red signal lamps to stop traffic before the door is opened. Such override switch shall be operable by the driver without removing both hands from the steering wheel.

(iii) Operational indicator light and signal lamps shall cancel automatically by closing the door or by other means and stop arm, if air, vacuum or electrically powered, shall automatically retract.

(iv) With master switch activated, opening the entrance door, without first activation the amber light switch, shall cause the red signal lamps and stop semaphore to function.

(v) With master switch off, depressing hand or foot switch will not activate the amber signal system, nor will opening entrance door actuate the red signal system and stop arm.

(c) Two (2) red clearance lamps on the rear and two (2) amber clearance lamps on the front shall be mounted as high as practical on the permanent structure of the bus to indicate its extreme width. Two (2) side marker lamps, amber at the front and red at the rear shall be mounted on each side of the bus. Three (3) red identification lamps shall be mounted on the same level not more than eight inches (8 inches) apart in the center rear of the body as high as practical, and three (3) amber identification lamps shall be likewise mounted in the center front of the body.

(d) The rear registration number plate shall be illuminated by a white lamp so as to be plainly legible at fifty (50) feet during periods of darkness. The registration plate lamp shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the headlamps are lighted. The rear license plate lamp may be combined with one of the four (4) inch combination stop and tail lamps, as required in subsection (a)(2) of this section.

(e) Interior lamps shall adequately illuminate the entire aisle, emergency passageway and step well.

(f) Class A turn signal lamps shall be provided. Flush mounted "armored" type amber lamps with a minimum of four (4) candlepower each shall be mounted on the sides of the body at approximately seat level rub rail height just to the rear of the service door on the right side, and approximately opposite the driver's seat on the left side. They are to be connected to function with the regular turn signal lamps.

(g) Back up lamps shall be provided.

(h) Parking lamps shall be provided.

(i) Flashing white strobe lamps;

1. An optional white flashing strobe lamp may be installed on the roof of a school bus near the rear not to exceed four (4) feet forward of the rear roof edge.

2. The lamp assembly shall have a single clear lens emitting light three hundred sixty (360) degrees around its vertical axis and may not extend above the roof more than six (6) inches.

3. A clearly labeled manual switch and pilot light shall be installed in the driver's compartment to indicate when the strobe light is in operation.

4. The strobe lamp assembly shall comply with SAE J575, SAE J578, and SAE J1318 for a white light. The flash frequency shall be between sixty (60) and ninety (90) flashes per minute and the period between flashes shall all be equal.

5. If installed, the strobe lamp shall be deactivated whenever there are no students on the bus, except that it may be activated prior to receiving the first student.

(Adopted effective May 2, 2007)