Section 575 IAC 1-2.5-39 - Lamps and signalsAuthority: IC 20-27-3-4
Affected: IC 20-27-9
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. State School Bus Committee; 575 IAC 1-2.5-39; filed Jun 20, 1988, 8:50 am: 11 IR 3851; readopted filed Oct 10, 2001, 3:37 p.m.: 25 IR 938; readopted filed Jun 19, 2007, 10:10 a.m.: 20070704-IR-575070225RFA; readopted filed Nov 12, 2013, 11:21 a.m.: 20131211-IR-575130420RFA