Interpretation ID: aiam3695
Manager
Engineering Services
Blue Bird Body Company
P.O. Box 937
Fort Valley
GA 31030;
Dear Mr. Turner: This is in response to your letter of March 10, 1983, with respect to school bus warning light system that you wish to offer in response to your understanding of Utah Senate Bill No. 70. This system would allow the school bus operator to activate only the rear warning lamps when stopping on a divided highway where no traffic is approaching from the front in an adjacent traffic lane.; In our opinion, the Utah bill (copy attached) does not require such system, and a system of this nature is not allowed by Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108. The pertinent portion of Senate Bill No. 70 reads: 'The driver of a vehicle upon a divided highway or upon a highway with roadways separated by a painted median in excess of 12 feet of width need not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus which is on the other roadway.' (Sec. 2) The bill contains no reference to the number or kinds of lights that a school bus may operate in this traffic situation. As paragraph S4.1.4(b)(ii) of Standard No. 108 requires activation of lighting systems, without qualification, we interpret it as precluding a system that is capable of partial operation.; Sincerely, Frank Berndt, Chief Counsel