Sec. 19.

(1) This section applies to new school buses manufactured on or after October 1, 1990 and to school buses manufactured before October 1, 1990 that are retrofitted to meet the requirements of this section.

(2) A school bus shall be equipped with signal lights mounted as high and widely spaced laterally as practicable that are capable of displaying to the front 2 overhead alternately flashing red lights located at the same level and to the rear 2 overhead alternately flashing red lights located at the same level.

(3) In addition to the 4 red lights described in subsection (2), 4 amber lights shall be installed near each red signal light, at the same level, but closer to the vertical center line of the bus. The system of red and amber signal lights shall be wired so that the amber lights are energized manually, and the red lights are automatically energized, with the amber lights being automatically de-energized, when the bus service door is opened.

(4) The area around the lens of each overhead alternately flashing signal light and extending outward approximately 3 inches shall be painted black. In installations where there is no flat vertical portion of body immediately surrounding the entire lens of a light, a circular or square band of black approximately 3 inches wide, immediately below and to both sides of a lens, shall be painted on the body or roof area against which the signal light is seen from a distance of 500 feet along the axis of the vehicle. Visors or hoods with an appropriate black background to fit their shape and roofcap may also be used. These amber and red lights shall have sufficient intensity to be visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet in normal sunlight. Lights indicating alternately flashing light operation shall be visible to the driver when in a normal seated position.

History: 1990, Act 187, Eff. Aug. 15, 1990 ;-- Am. 2000, Act 49, Imd. Eff. Mar. 29, 2000 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 231, Imd. Eff. July 21, 2004