It only took 40 years, but Wisconsin implemented an eight-way light system on school buses in an effort to boost student safety throughout the state, just in time for school to start.
Flashing amber and red lights will now be commonplace on a majority of school buses due to a new law that went into effect Aug. 16. The switch to the eight-light system will depend on the model year of the vehicle.
The eight-light system incorporates the use of amber lights, which will flash before the red lights as a warning to motorists. The Wisconsin School Bus Association elaborated on this point, stating in a press release that when buses equipped with these lights engage them, “They are preparing to stop or are stopped.”
In the same statement, the WSBA added that “it’s against the law to not stop for a school bus, but more importantly, our children are counting on you for their safety in getting to school and home.”
Most states adopted the eight-light system on school buses in the 1970s and 1980s, while Wisconsin remained the lone holdout to incorporate this safety feature until the new law passed earlier this year.
