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Memorandum
To:Robert Garton, Chairperson, Legislative
Council
From:Pete Baxter, Chairman, Indiana State School Bus Committee
Re:School Bus Warning Lamp Study
- Public Law 89-1999 
Date:October 25, 1999
The 1999 Indiana General Assembly enacted P.L. 89-1999,
authored by Representative Susan Crosby, directing the State School
Bus Committee to review the existing state and federal requirements
for the display of flashing yellow and red signal lamps by a school
bus when coming to a stop to load or unload children. The State
School Bus Committee was to evaluate whether the existing requirements
are adequate to ensure children's safety or whether children's
safety could be improved by requiring the earlier display of the
flashing red signal lamps. In addition, the State School Bus Committee
was to determine the feasibility of amending state laws and rules
for requesting a change in federal regulations to require the earlier
display of the flashing red signal lamps.
The study is attached for the Legislative Council's
review. Summarized below are the main conclusions in the study.
- The State School Bus Committee believes the existing
configuration and operation of yellow and red warning lamps used
by a school bus to take on or discharge children provides more
than adequate protection to children at bus stops. Highway users
depend on the uniformity and consistency of messages, from traffic
control devices, to aid in safe vehicle operation. Flashing yellow
and red lamps have established well understood messages. It is
common knowledge that the color yellow means caution and the
color red means stop. The universal message of these colors is
consistent; whether the lamp is part of a traffic control device
(e.g., railroad crossing signal, a traffic light, or intersection
flasher) or equipment on a vehicle (e.g., automobile 4-way hazard
lights, fire truck, police car, school bus).
- There is no data to support the belief that motorists
will take the authority of the school bus more seriously if the
red flasher lights were activated earlier. However, we believe
permitting earlier activation of the red lights is certain to decrease student
safety at bus stops.
- Upon observing the yellow warning lamps, some
motorists use this as an opportunity to speed up to avoid
stopping for the bus. This is identical to their behavior when
encountering the yellow signal on the traffic light. Rhetorically
speaking, why should we expect different behavior near a school
bus? It is unrealistic to expect that equipment alone is the
solution to improving student safety, when the larger issue is
highway user behavior. Modifying the highway user's behavior
is better accomplished through education, public service information,
increased enforcement of existing school bus stop laws, continuous
evaluation of school bus routes, and bus stop selection.
We believe the following countermeasures have merit
in improving student safety at bus stops:
- Create and disseminate public service announcements
for television, radio, and newspaper markets to educate highway
users about the school bus stop law.
- Identify best practices and recommend that school
districts establish safe school bus routes and stops.
- Design enforcement blitzes of the school bus stop
law by law enforcement agencies.
- Implement student safety programs pertaining to
loading zone safety and best practices at bus stops.
If further assistance is necessary please feel free
to contact me by e-mail to pbaxter@doe.in.gov or
by telephone at 317-232-0891.
Attachment
c: Honorable Susan Crosby, State Representative
State School Bus Committee
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