HB-4054, As Passed House, June 15, 2017
SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE BILL NO. 4054
A bill to amend 1990 PA 187, entitled
"The pupil transportation act,"
(MCL 257.1801 to 257.1877) by adding section 12.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 12. (1) In addition to any other warning signals required
by this act, a school bus may be equipped with a flashing advisory
sign for the purpose of warning the operators of other vehicles of
the presence of a traffic hazard requiring the use of unusual care
in approaching, overtaking, or passing. A flashing advisory sign
described in this subsection shall meet all of the following
requirements:
(a) The sign shall be mounted on the rear of the school bus in
an area that does not interfere with compliance with the
requirements of section 19 or 33.
(b) The sign shall display warning messages to motorists in
accordance with all of the following:
(i) The sign shall be sealed and weathertight, and shall be
23.5 by 8.75 by 1.5 inches in size.
(ii) The sign shall be connected to the school bus safety
lights.
(iii) The sign shall alternately flash the word messages
"caution" and "stopping" when the amber school bus safety lights
are activated. The letters in the word messages described in this
subparagraph shall be amber and shall be at least 1.5 inches tall.
The word messages described in this subparagraph may be controlled
by the hazard lights or school bus safety light flashers.
(iv) The sign shall flash the word message "stop" or "do not
pass" when the red school bus safety lights are activated. The
letters in the word messages described in this subparagraph shall
be red and shall be at least 1.5 inches tall. The word messages
described in this subparagraph may be controlled by the hazard
lights or school bus safety light flashers.
(v) The sign shall flash the word message "caution" or
"caution stopping" when the hazard lights are activated. The
letters in the word messages described in this subparagraph shall
be amber and shall be at least 1.5 inches tall. The word messages
described in this subparagraph may be controlled by the hazard
lights or school bus safety light flashers.
(vi) The sign shall flash the word message "caution" when the
back-up lights are activated. The letters in the word message
described in this subparagraph shall be amber and shall be at least
1.5 inches tall. The word messages described in this subparagraph
may be controlled by the hazard lights or school bus safety light
flashers.
(vii) The sign shall have a minimum viewing angle of 15
degrees on each side of the perpendicular axis.
(viii) The word messages described in subparagraphs (iii) to
(vi) shall be clearly visible in direct sunlight from a distance of
500 feet along the axis of the school bus.
(ix) Regardless of the type of lighting used for illumination,
each warning message displayed by the sign shall include a complete
light quality arrangement to fully and clearly convey the intended
warning message to approaching motorists.
(2) An electronic sign that displays warning messages to
motorists may be placed on the front of a school bus if all of the
following are satisfied:
(a) A flashing advisory sign has been mounted on the rear of
the school bus as provided in subsection (1)(a).
(b) The sign is wired only to the amber and red school bus
safety lights.
(c) The sign is mounted below the windshield, vertically
centered, and does not create a vision obstruction for the driver
of the school bus.
(3) A sign described in subsections (1) and (2) shall comply
with all of the following:
(a) The sign shall be uniform in design and in operation, and
each sign placed on a school bus as provided in this section shall
display the same advisory warnings.
(b) The sign shall automatically energize when the school
bus's hazard lights are activated, shall comply with section 19(3),
and shall automatically de-energize when the school bus service
door is closed.
(c) The sign shall be properly maintained and operated as
designed by the manufacturer.
(4) This section may be referred to as the "Privacky Law".