Chapter 4501-25 | Vehicles Transporting Pre-School Children

Rule 4501-25-01 | Scope and purpose - transporting pre-school children.

• Effective: May 22, 2003
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) The standards and specifications of Chapter 4501-25 of the Administrative Code are herein adopted by the director of public safety to cover amber flashing lights and signs to be used on all vehicles transporting pre-school children pursuant to section 4513.182 of the Revised Code.

(B) The purpose of this chapter is to provide a uniform warning system of lights and signs used by vehicles transporting pre-school children to warn motorists that pre-school children are being loaded and unloaded by this vehicle.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: R.C. 4513.182
Amplifies: R.C. 4513.182
Five Year Review Date: 9/1/2024
Prior Effective Dates: 1/19/1976

Rule 4501-25-02 | General warning signal requirements.

• Effective: June 15, 2009
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) Each vehicle shall be equipped with two double-faced amber flashing lamps.

(B) The warning lamps shall be mounted as high and as far apart as practicable, but in no case should the lateral spacing be less than three feet apart.

(C) Visibility of the warning lamps shall be unobstructed by any part of the vehicle ten degrees above to ten degrees below the horizontal and from forty-five degrees to the right to forty-five degrees to the left of the centerline of the vehicle.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: R.C. 4513.182
Amplifies: R.C. 4513.182
Five Year Review Date: 9/1/2024
Prior Effective Dates: 1/19/1976

Rule 4501-25-03 | Driver indicator.

• Effective: January 19, 1976
• Promulgated Under: Ch 119.

There shall be a visible or audible means of giving a clear and unmistakable indication to the driver when the warning lamps are turned "on" and functioning normally.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: –
Amplifies: –
Five Year Review Date:

Rule 4501-25-04 | Lamp requirements.

• Effective: June 15, 2009
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) Warning lamps shall have at least twelve square inches of effective illuminated area.

(1) The exposed illuminated area of the lamp shall have no word, letter, nor other device on the lens intended to identify the signal.

(2) The flashing signal from a double-faced signal lamp shall not be obliterated when subjected to external light rays from either in front or behind, at any and all angles.

(B) Each warning lamp shall be powered by an optical element of not less than twenty-one candlepower with reflectorization sufficient to assure visibility for at least one thousand feet to the front and rear of the vehicle.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: R.C. 4513.182
Amplifies: R.C. 4513.182
Five Year Review Date: 9/1/2024
Prior Effective Dates: 1/19/1976

Rule 4501-25-05 | Simultaneous flashing device.

• Effective: June 15, 2009
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

The lights shall be equipped with a device to cause them to flash "on" and "off", and such device shall be so wired as to cause both lights to be lighted simultaneously and not alternately.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: R.C. 4513.182
Amplifies: R.C. 4513.182
Five Year Review Date: 9/1/2024
Prior Effective Dates: 1/19/1976

Rule 4501-25-06 | S.A.E. requirements.

• Effective: June 15, 2009
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

Warning lights used under section 4513.182 of the Revised Code, shall, in addition to meeting the requirements of Chapter 4501-25 of the Administrative Code, be required to meet the society of automotive engineers (S.A.E.) standard J595, revised January 1990, for lamp bulbs, vibration, moisture, dust, and corrosion tests. The S.A.E. standard is available from the "Society of Automotive Engineers (S.A.E.), 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096, [phone], S.A.E. website: www.sae.org."

Warning lights when placed in service after June 1, 2009 shall be required to meet the society of automotive engineers (S.A.E.) standard J595, revised January 2005, providing design guidelines, test procedure references, and performance requirements for flashing incandescent warning lamps.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: R.C. 4513.182
Amplifies: R.C. 4513.182
Five Year Review Date: 9/1/2024
Prior Effective Dates: 5/22/2003

Rule 4501-25-07 | Mounting of lights.

• Effective: January 19, 1976
• Promulgated Under: Ch 119.

Mounting of warning lights shall be such that they can be removed from the vehicle when it is being used for purposes other than the transportation of pre-school children.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: –
Amplifies: –
Five Year Review Date:

Rule 4501-25-08 | Sign requirements - specifications.

• Effective: May 22, 2003
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) The sign required under section 4513.182 of the Revised Code shall bear the designation "Caution - Children", and shall be attached to the bar carrying the amber flashing lights.

(B) The sign shall be mounted in such manner as to be legible to persons both in front of and behind the vehicle, and be mounted in the center of the vehicle between the warning lights.

(C) The sign shall consist of such material as to be stable against wind pressure and shall not consist of any such flexible material that would bend or reduce the visibility of the wording.

(D) The sign shall be at least seven inches in height, bearing the words "Caution - Children" in black letters on a yellow background. The letters shall be not less than four inches in height and not less than three-quarters of an inch in width of stroke.

(E) The sign shall be so constructed as to permit its removal from the vehicle when such vehicle is being used for purposes other than the transportation of pre-school children.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: R.C. 4513.182
Amplifies: R.C. 4513.182
Five Year Review Date: 9/1/2024
Prior Effective Dates: 1/19/1976