“Tis results in extended vehicle life, less downtime, and lower maintenance costs,”


said McCullar. Te energy savings could have a positive rippling effect in a time when school dis-


tricts are cutting staff and programs to meet strained budget requirements. “According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau (2006-2007 data), there are 95,615 pub-


lic elementary and secondary schools and 29,273 private elementary and secondary schools in this country. Imagine the amount of money that could be redirected toward educating the children, hiring more teachers and buying necessary classroom materials if an energy efficiency program was implemented,” said Polito. But all the positive evidence in the world can’t influence everyone to make the change.


Back Up/Reverse 7” & 4”


WHY ?LED Signal Lights


7” & 4” STT or Rear Turns


NEW! RD Series Warning Lights


NEW! RD Series License Plate


Dual Function STT & License Plate


NEW! RD Series LED Beacons


SAFER. GREENER. LOWER COST.


Safer Buses: studies have shown LED lights have improved safety, are environmentally friendly and have lower operating costs than traditional incandescent lights.


Markers 390 Series 520 RD Series 4500 Series Headlight Flasher


Select-A-Pattern NEW! Isolation model


Interior/Utility 120 RD Series


Dome/Cargo Lights


3.5” Utility Light Stepwell Lights Curb/Entry Lts.


These are actually our children, yes they ride buses and we take our work very seriously.


4.5” Stepwell Lt. 4” Curb/Entry Lt. an employee owned company 800.338.7337 44 School Transportation News Magazine May 2010 150 Series WHY NOT.


•Reduce “Drive-bys” •Increase Visibility •Faster Light Illumination •Low Amp Draw •Low Maintenance


“Budgets are tighter across the board,


and making an initial, up-front invest- ment in a new technology, in exchange for lower total costs in the future, can be a risk that school districts aren’t willing to take,” said Debbi Gerdes, a sales represen- tative for Doran Manufacturing.


Increasing the Spotlight on Safety With cost becoming less of a factor in


deterring school districts from purchasing LEDs, many manufacturers are highlight- ing one very important benefit to their use — increased safety. Compared to their filament-based bulb brethren, LEDs come to full brightness six times faster. “When used in warning lamps, this in-


stant-on ability equates to improved on/ off contrast resulting in a sharper, more effective signal,” said Weldon’s McCullar. It was safety that first drove Sound-


Off Signal into the LED business, said Tomas Palumbo, vice president of sales and marketing. According to a February 1987 University of Michigan report (No. UMTRI-87-13), reaction times were 250 milliseconds faster for drivers following vehicles with LED lights than with incan- descent lights. Tis translates into a 22-foot improvement in stopping distance at 60 mph, potentially the difference between having a car slam into the back of the bus. “But visibility isn’t just about fast reac-


tions and light intensity. Te lights can be programmed to flash more quickly than traditional incandescent lights. Tis rapid flash rate alerts drivers’ attention to where it belongs: on the road and that stopped school bus ahead. Te safety of our chil- dren is the most important issue in school bus transportation,” said Palumbo. Reps at Heavy Duty Bus Parts have


received a number of calls from custom- ers with stories of bus drivers noticing less illegal passing during loading and unloading as well as parents and other motorists in the district who call in to the transportation department to com- pliment them on the new lights they’ve noticed on the buses. “When we’ve helped a fleet to completely


or partially retrofit to LEDs and get these types of calls, it is a huge morale booster and reassures us the lamps are doing their job,” said company president Billingsley. ■


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