Section 300.54. Lights, lamps, and reflectors.

 

(1)  The following lights, lamps, and reflectors are required on a school bus. Each lamp shall be operational and meet the applicable SAE specifications as provided in this section.

(a) A school bus painted in accordance with s. 347.44 (1) , Stats., shall be equipped with alternating flashing lights which conform to the following requirements:

1. The bus shall be equipped with 2 red warning lamps at the rear of the bus and 2 red warning lamps at the front of the bus, which shall be controlled by a manually actuated switch and shall flash alternately at rate of 60 to 120 cycles per minute. A brake or door operated switch is not permitted. The "on" period shall be long enough to permit bulb filament to come to full brightness. Two additional red warning lamps to the front and 2 to the rear may be installed inboard and at the same level as the required lamps. If so equipped, the system of red warning lamps shall be of equal size and wired so that the inboard lamps are energized manually. The outboard lamps shall be automatically energized and the inboard lamps automatically de-energized when the stop signal arm is extended.

a. An option is permitted whereby 2 additional alternating flashing red lights may be mounted on both the front and rear of the bus. The additional front facing lights shall be located between the bottom of the windshield and the top of the highest headlamp. They may be mounted on the fender or the cowl.

b. The additional rear facing lights may be separate lamps mounted within 12 inches above or below the directional turn signals or may be incorporated in an existing lamp. Any incorporation with an existing unit may not interfere with or override the existing unit's function. If the optional lighting system utilizes the rear directional signals, it shall be so designed that if both the directional signal lamp and the flashing red lights are activated during the same period of time, the flashing warning signals shall revert to only the 2 required warning signals until such time as the directional signal lamp is deactivated. The optional system may not be incorporated with the stop signal lamp.

c. The optional system shall have units with a red lens of at least the same size as the required alternating lights. The alternating "on," "off" positions shall be opposite from those of the required alternating lights. The effect will produce the required top mounted flashing light and an optional mid–height mounted light to flash on opposite sides simultaneously. The result can be described as a "wig–wag" or "cross–arm" effect.

d. A school bus shall be equipped with warning signal lights mounted at the same level as high and widely spaced laterally as practicable. The warning signal lights shall be mounted at the front above the windshield and at the rear so that the lower edge of the lens is not lower than the top line of the side window openings. These lights must be capable of displaying to the front 2, and to the rear 2, overhead alternately flashing red lights.

1m. On or after August 16, 2016, the following requirements shall apply to school buses:

a. The school bus body shall be equipped with, in addition to the 4 red warning lights described in subd. 1. , amber warning light shall be installed near each red warning light, at the same level, but closer to the vertical center line of the bus. The system of red and amber warning signal lights shall be wired so that the amber warning lights are activated manually, and the red warning lights are automatically activated, with the amber warning lights being automatically deactivated, when the stop signal arm is extended.

b. An amber and a red flashing pilot light shall be installed in the driver's forward field of view indicating to the driver which warning light system is activated.

c. The amber and red warning lights shall flash alternately at a rate of 60 to 120 cycles per minute. The "on" period shall be long enough to permit bulb filament to come to full brightness. A double flash effect shall be counted as a single flash.

d. The above requirements in this subdiv. do not apply to school buses whose body was manufactured before January 1, 2005.

2. The amber and red warning lights shall be of seal beam construction or other approved type such as strobe or light emitting diode, not less than 5 inches in diameter or with a surface area of at least 19 square inches if not round and visible from a distance of at least 500 feet along the axis of the vehicle in bright sunlight.

3. There shall be a visible or audible means of giving clear and unmistakable indication to the driver when the signaling system is turned on.

4. Each amber and red warning light shall be mounted with its axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bus.

5. The front and rear amber and red warning lights shall be spaced as far apart laterally as practicable, and in no case shall the spacing between lamp centers be less than 3 feet.

6. The front amber and red warning lights shall be located so that they can be clearly distinguished when headlamps are lighted on low beam.

7. The amber and red warning lights shall be mounted at the front above the windshield and at the rear so that the lower edge of the lens is not lower than the top line of the side window openings.

8. The front and the rear warning lights shall be unobstructed by any part of the bus from 5 degrees above to 10 degrees below horizontal and from 30 degrees to the right and 30 degrees to the left of the centerline of the bus.

9. The body immediately surrounding the area around the lens of each alternately flashing amber and red warning light shall have a black background extending outward a minimum of 3 inches. Where this is not practicable the background shall extend as wide as possible, with a minimum of a 1 inch black background required.

10. Amber and red warning signal ights may be equipped with hoods to shield from rays of sun for improved visibility.

11. Lamps shall meet the requirements of SAE J887.

12. Vehicles painted other than glossy yellow are prohibited from having the alternating amber and red flashing warning lights mounted on the vehicle except as otherwise provided by statute.

(am) Each school bus first registered on or after October 1, 1998, shall be equipped with a strobe light that conforms to the following requirements:

1. The strobe light shall be of solid state construction. It shall emit a white light by flashing, not rotating, 360 degrees around the vertical axis.

2. The strobe light shall be capable of operating continuously without any significant change in the flash rate under all operating conditions or weather extremes experienced in this state. The flash rate shall be no less than 60 nor more than 120 per minute. The double flash effect shall be counted as a single flash.

3. The electronic power supply circuit shall provide a minimum of 10 joules to the strobe tube. The flash shall be so designed that there is a single or double flash or pulsing of the flash tube. A double flash unit may have different intensities with the first flash having the highest intensity.

4. The strobe light shall be permanently mounted on the centerline of the bus roof not less than 3 feet from the front or rear of the bus. A strobe unit may not extend more than 8 inches above the roof.

5. The unit may be wired with an independent switch with an indicator light in the driver's compartment showing when the light is in operation.

6. The strobe light shall be actuated whenever the bus is in operation on a highway for purposes specified in s. 340.01 (56) (a) and (am) , Stats., and may be actuated when the bus is in operation on a highway and is transporting children for any other purpose.

(b) Two backup lamps shall be provided which shall conform to SAE J593e.

(c) There shall be 2 red clearance lamps on the rear and 2 amber clearance lamps on the front, mounted as high and wide as practicable to indicate the vehicle's extreme width. Buses less than 80 inches wide are exempt from this paragraph.

(d) The bus shall be equipped with direction or turn signal lamps.

1. There shall be at or near the front, facing forward, one amber turn signal light on each side of the vertical centerline mounted at the same height, as wide as practicable. The bus may be equipped with signals mounted in the body or chassis. If not equipped with body or chassis mounted front turn signals, double faced signals shall be installed either on the fender or hood and shall be as wide as practicable. Mounting of double faced signals may not be higher than the bottom of the windshield or lower than the headlamps.

2. There shall be on the rear, one red or amber signal on each side of the vertical centerline as wide as practicable mounted at the same height.

3. Rear turn signals shall be mounted no less than 15 inches nor more than 83 inches above the roadway.

4. Both the front and the rear direction signals shall comply with SAE J588f.

5. An auxiliary side mounted signal shall be installed 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. These shall operate in conjunction with the turn signals. This subdivision applies to school buses of 30 feet or more in length. These lamps shall comply with SAE J914b.

(e) Each bus shall be equipped with a 4-way hazard warning operating unit which shall operate independently of the ignition or equivalent switch and when activated shall cause the turn signal lamps to flash simultaneously.

(f) The headlamps shall comply with SAE J579c.

(g) Each bus shall be equipped with a light designed to indicate when the high beam headlamps are lit and located to be visible to the driver.

(h) Each bus, 80 or more inches wide, shall be equipped with 3 amber identification lamps to the front and 3 red identification lamps to the rear with lamp centers no less than 6 inches nor more than 12 inches apart. No part of the front lamp or mountings shall be below the top of the bus windshield.

(i) Each bus, 30 feet or more in length, shall be equipped with intermediate side marker lamps meeting SAE J592f mounted no less than 15 inches above the road surface and at or near mid-point between the front and rear side marker lamps.

(j) Each bus shall have a license plate lamp to illuminate the rear license plate. The lamp shall meet the standards of SAE J587.

(k) Each bus shall be equipped with side marker lights. One amber lamp shall be located on the side as far forward as possible and one red lamp shall be located as far rearward as practicable. The lamps shall conform to SAE J592.

(L) There shall be 2 red stop lamps meeting the requirements of SAE J586 mounted on the rear, one on each side of the vertical centerline at the same height and as far apart as practicable. Type A–I, B, C or D buses shall be equipped with lamps at least 7 inches in diameter or with at least 38 square inches of surface area if not round. The stop lamps shall activate upon application of the service brakes.

(m) There shall be 2 red tail lamps meeting the requirements of SAE J585e mounted on the rear, one on each side of the vertical centerline at the same height and as far apart as practicable. The tail lamps shall activate in conjunction with the headlamps. Two additional tail lamps may be utilized and incorporated in the stop lamp described in par. (L) .

(n) There shall be reflex reflectors mounted on the bus located as follows:

1. On the rear, 2 red reflectors equally spaced as far apart from the center as practicable.

2. On the side, 2 reflectors; one amber at or near the front and one red at or near the rear.

3. On the side of buses 30 feet or more in length, one amber reflector located at or near the center.

4. Each reflector shall be mounted no less than 15 inches nor more than 60 inches above the road surface.

(2)  Noncontrasting reflective tape or sheeting may be used on a school bus as an additional warning device.

(3)  Any lamp, light, or reflector shall be replaced only with a unit meeting the standards of this section.

(4)  School buses painted as provided in s. 347.44 , Stats., and registered prior to October 1, 1998, may be equipped with a strobe light meeting the requirements of sub. (1) (am) .

Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326 , eff. 3-1-83; am. (1) (intro.), (a) 1. intro., b., 2., 11., 12., (c), (d) 1., 5., (e), (h) to (m), (2), (4) (c), (d), Register, February, 1995, No. 470 , eff. 3-1-95 ; am. (1) (a) 1. intro., b., 3. and 9., (d) 1., (L) and (4) (a), Register, December, 1997, No. 504 , eff. 1-1-98; cr. (1) (am) (intro.), 6. and (4), r. (4) (intro.), renum. (4) (a) to (d) to be (1) (am) 1. to 4, renum. and am. (4) (e) to be (1) (am) 5., Register, April, 1999, No. 520 , eff. 5-1-99; CR 03-116 : am. (1) (a) 1. c., 2., 9., (d) 1. and (L) Register April 2004 No. 580 , eff. 5-1-04; CR 15-069 : am. (1) (intro.), (a) (intro.), cr. (1) (a) 1. d., 1m., am. (1) (a) 2., 4. to 10., 12., (am) (intro.), 1. Register April 2016 No. 724 , eff. 5-1-16; correction in (1) (a) (intro.) made under s. 35.17 , Stats. Register April 2016 No. 724 .