Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
All bus hazard warning strobe lamps must meet the Class 2
requirements of SAE Standard J1318, and may only be used as follows:
(1) School buses may be equipped with a
single additional hazard strobe lamp in addition to the eight lamp warning
system. Such lamps must:
(a) Be mounted on the
centerline of the roof in the rear one-half of the bus.
(b) Be clear and less than eight inches in
height.
(c) Not be mounted any
closer than six feet from the rear of the bus measured from a vertical plane
tangent to the rearmost point of the bus body. However , if the bus is equipped
with a roof hatch falling within six feet of the rear of the bus, the strobe
lamp may be located directly behind the roof hatch.
(d) Be activated by a switch independent of
all other lamp switches. This switch must be plainly labeled and have a pilot
lamp that must indicate when the lamp is in operation.
(e) Only be used when the bus is occupied
with school children and one or more of the following conditions exists:
(i) The bus is in motion in inclement, sight
obscuring conditions, including but not limited to rain, fog, snow, and
smoke;
(ii) There is a need to
improve the visibility of the bus when stopping, standing, or starting onto a
highway;
(iii) There is limited
visibility caused by geographic hazards such as winding roadways, hills, trees,
buildings, etc.
The strobe lamp must not be activated solely because of
darkness.
(2) Municipal transit vehicles (as defined in
RCW
46.04.355 ) may be equipped with a single
additional hazard strobe lamp. Such lamps:
(a)
May be mounted on the centerline of the roof in the rear one-half of the bus so
long as the lamp is clear and less than eight inches in height.
(b) Be activated by a switch independent of
all other lamp switches. The hazard strobe lamp switch must be plainly labeled
and have a pilot lamp that must indicate when the lamp is in
operation.
(c) Only be used when
the bus is occupied with passengers and one or more of the following conditions
exists:
(i) The bus is in motion in inclement,
sight obscuring conditions, including but not limited to rain, fog, snow, and
smoke;
(ii) There is a need to
improve the visibility of the bus when stopping, standing, or starting onto a
highway;
(iii) There is limited
visibility caused by geographic hazards, such as winding roadways, hills,
trees, etc.
The strobe lamp must not be activated solely because of
darkness.
Statutory Authority:
RCW
46.37.005 and
46.37.320. 12-03-084, §
204-21-210, filed 1/13/12, effective 2/13/12; 08-19-104, § 204-21-210,
filed 9/17/08, effective 10/18/08.
