The purpose of equipping buses with roof mount strobe lights is to alert motorists that a school bus is in the vicinity. This may be especially helpful in severe weather conditions, such as rain, fog, smog, and snow, where the vision of approaching motorists is more obscured.
Why do school buses have white strobe lights?
In the foggy Central Valley of California, flashing white strobe lights are mounted on top of the bus to assist other drivers in seeing the school bus approaching or at a stop. … The side lights, top and bottom, indicate a long vehicle and will be marked at least midway of the vehicle.
What is the purpose of a strobe light?
Strobe lights are used in scientific and industrial applications, and are often used for aircraft anti-collision lighting both on aircraft themselves and also on tall stationary objects, such as television and radio towers.
What do flashing lights on a bus mean?
Lights flash on buses to warn motorists that buses are picking up and dropping off children. By law, a driver must not overtake or pass a bus with flashing lights at more than 40km/h. Lights begin to flash when the bus stops and the doors open, and they keep flashing for about 20 seconds after the doors close.
Can you pass a bus with yellow flashing lights?
If you see flashing yellow lights, that means the school bus is about to stop. If you’re behind it, it’s illegal to pass on the right side. … If you see flashing red lights, that means the bus has stopped and is loading or unloading students.
Why are school buses painted white on top?
According to this nearly 20-year-old New York Times article, the reason is that white tops are more reflective, lowering the temperature inside the bus by an average of 10 degrees during the summer. …
Why do school busses not have seatbelts?
The simple answer is that they don’t need them. In a cost/benefit analysis, the cost of adding seat belts to school buses outweighs any potential benefits, according to NHTSA studies. Modern school buses are large and heavy, and their passengers sit high off the ground. … School buses are designed to be safe.
Why are strobe lights dangerous?
The strobe of the light source fluctuates due to the intensity of the light radiation of the light source, causing frequent and harmful flicker interference to the human eye, and infringes and interferes with the activity of the human brain.
Are strobe lights legal?
It is legal for anyone to buy car strobe lights for their private vehicles. However, the laws surrounding the usage of strobe lights for your personal vehicle vary greatly state by state. By and large, in most states, car strobe lights are not allowed on public roads, but are permitted on private property.
Do police use strobe lights?
How Police Use Strobe Lights? In law enforcement, the strobe flashlight for self-defense is used on potential suspects who may present a danger but are not lethally armed. The strobe light is disorienting to the person it is aimed at which makes it difficult for them to concentrate.
What do you do when you see a school bus with flashing lights?
School bus safety tips for drivers:
Stop at least 20 feet away for buses when red lights are flashing, unless driving in the opposite direction on a divided highway. Slow down in or near school and residential areas.
What does it mean if a school bus has flashing amber lights flashing?
“Flashing amber lights are a signal that the school bus is preparing to stop, so drivers need to slow down, pay attention and proceed carefully,” State Patrol Lt. Karl Mittelstadt said in a statement.
When you see these lights flashing on the back of a bus?
They keep flashing for about 30 seconds after the door closes and continue even after the bus moves off. This is to warn you that children might be crossing. School buses will also have flashing headlights. Children can be unpredictable and may try to cross the road when it’s not safe to do so.
What do yellow flashing lights on school bus mean?
According to the California law (CVC 22454), motorists must remain stopped as long as the red lights on the school bus are flashing. … Some school buses flash yellow lights when preparing to stop to let children off the bus. The yellow lights are a warning to driver to slow down and prepare to stop.
What will happen to me if I passed a bus flashing yellow lights that had just put up its stop sign as I was already beside the bus?
So, unless you’re right up on the bus as the lights turn on and stopping your vehicle abruptly would cause you the be rear-ended, you need to slow down and come to a full stop as soon as you see the yellow flashing lights.
What does a flashing yellow mean?
Any flashing yellow signal means drivers are to slow down and proceed through the intersection with caution. A flashing red signal means motorists should come to a complete stop before proceeding.