Sec. 39.
(a) Each
bus must have two (2) three and three-fourths (3 3/4) inch minimum tail and
brake lamps and two (2) seven (7) inch tail and brake lamps, all of which must
emit red light that is visible for 500 feet during normal weather conditions.
Brake lamps must have at least the intensity of the Class A turn signal lamps
as established by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Tail lamps must be
mounted on the bus at least 40 inches from the center of the lamp to the
ground. They must be placed below the window line and spaced at least five (5)
feet apart.
(b) Each bus must have
two (2) back-up lights.
(c) All
interior lamps must illuminate the aisle and the step-well.
(d) An alternately flashing signaling system
must alert other highway users that the bus is stopped or about to stop to take
on or let off students. The system on each bus ordered and initially placed in
service on or after July 1, 1988, must meet the following specifications:
(1) The signaling system must include the
following equipment:
(A) Two (2) seven (7)
inch red warning lights at the front and the rear of the bus.
(B) In addition to the four (4) red lamps
described above, one (1) amber lamp must be placed beside each of the four (4)
red signal lamps. These lamps must be closer than the red lamps to the
longitudinal center line of the bus. While the red lamps must be automatically
energized, the amber lamps must be manually energized and de-energized when the
service door is opened.
(2) The system must be activated 400-800 feet
before the bus stops.
(3) It must
be clear through visible or audible means that the signalling system has been
turned on.
(4) Signal lamps shall
be installed as follows:
(A) Each signal
lamp's axis shall be mounted substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of
the bus.
(B) The front and back
signal lamps shall be spaced at least 60 inches apart.
(C) The front signal lamps shall be mounted
horizontally on the same center line, above the windshield. The back lamps
shall be horizontally mounted on the same center line so that the lower edges
of the lenses are not lower than the top line of the side windows.
(D) An individual's view of the front and
back signal lamps shall be unobstructed by all parts of the bus from five (5)
degrees above to ten (10) degrees to the left of the center line of the
bus.
(E) Area around the lens of
each alternately flashing signal lamp, extending outward approximately three
(3) inches, must be painted black, with lead-free paint. Visors or hoods with
appropriate black paint may be used.
(F) Each lamp shall be mounted with its
aiming plane vertical and normal to the bus' axis.
(G) All flasher units for alternately
flashing red and amber signal lamps shall be enclosed in the body in an
accessible location.
(5)
Decals or lettering must identify the signalling system's master master
[sic.] control switch. Activation of the system's switch and
the door control switch must activate both the alternately flashing lamps and
the stop arm signal in the following manner:
(A) Depressing the master switch must
activate the amber indicator lights and the amber warning lights while the
sevice [sic.] door is closed.
(B) When the service door is opened and the
master switch is pressed, the amber indicator lights and the amber warning
lights must turn off, and the red indicator lights and the red warning lights
must flash, and the stop arm signal must be activated, with its lamps turning
on.
(C) All lights must turn off
and the stop arm signal must be deactivated when the service door is
closed.
(D) Opening the service
door without activating the master switch must not cause the lights to
flash.
(E) When the service door is
opened and the master switch is depressed, the red indicator lights, red
warning lamps, and the stop arm signal must be activated.
(e) Each school bus must contain
at least three (3) reflectorized triangle road warning devices in an accessible
location in the driver's compartment.
(f) Each bus must have a stop signal device
to indicate that the bus is stopped. The device must meet the following
specifications:
(1) The stop signal device
must be a flat octagon-shaped device, approximately 18 inches wide and 18
inches long, exclusive of the mounting brackets, and meet SAE specifications
J-1133.
(2) Both sides of the
device must be a bright red with a one half (1/2) inch border. The word "STOP"
must be printed on both sides in at least six (6) inch high white letters. The
sign, including the letters, must be reflectorized and must not lose over 20
percent of its reflectivity when wet.
(3) The stop signal device must contain
double-faced, alternately flashing four (4) inch high red lamps, with one (1)
lamp placed near the top and one (1) lamp placed near the bottom of the
device.
(4) The device must be
mounted outside and immediately below the driver's window.
(5) The stop signal device must have a
driver-controlled mechanism, either mechanical, vacuum, electrical, or air that
will hold the device in an extended or retracted position to prevent whipping
in the wind. The driver must be able to operate the mechanism while in the
normal driving position. Diesel engines without a chassis-installed vacuum or
air source must use an electric stop signal device.
(g) Reflectors on each bus must meet the
following specifications:
(1) Reflectors are
required in the following places on each bus:
(A) two (2) red reflectors on the back of the
bus;
(B) two (2) amber reflectors
on the front half of each side; and
(C) two (2) red reflectors on the back half
of each side.
(2)
Reflectors must be mounted 15 to 60 inches above the ground.
(h) Three (3) clearance lights
with two (2) candlepower bulbs each must be mounted in the center of the front
and the back of the bus at the highest points and in a horizontal plane with
other clearance lights.
(i) Each
bus must have an ignition-activated body cut-off switch.
(j) The front and back of the bus must have
seven (7) inch Class A amber turn signals that meet SAE standards. The front
turn signals must be cowl mounted. These signals must be independent units and
must be equipped with a 4-way hazard warning switch that causes simultaneous
flashing of turn signal lamps when needed as a hazard warning. The operating
switch must be self-cancelling.
