Wisconsin Administrative Code › Department of Transportation › Chapter Trans 300 - Transportation Of School Children › Subchapter II - Equipment Standards › Section Trans 300.54 - Lights, lamps, and reflectors

Current through June 24, 2024
(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 head lamp. 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 midheight mounted light to flash on opposite sides
				simultaneously. The result can be described as a "wigwag" or "crossarm"
				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.