Wis. Admin. Code Department of Transportation Trans 309.15 - Exterior ambulance lighting

(1) GENERAL LAMPS. Ambulances shall be equipped with headlamps, directional signal lamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, parking lamps, sidemarker lamps, license plate lamps, backup lamps, hazard warning lamps and clearance lamps meeting the requirements of ch. 347, Stats.

(2) EMERGENCY WARNING LAMPS.

(a) All ambulances shall be equipped with warning lamps consisting of:

1. Except as provided in par. (b), 2 top-corner mounted alternating flashing red lamps facing forward with a white flashing light mounted at an equal distance between them;

2. Except as provided in par. (c), 2 top-corner mounted alternating flashing red lights facing to the rear;

3. Two top-corner mounted alternating flashing red lights facing to the right side;

4. Two top-corner mounted alternating flashing red lights facing to the left side; and

5. At least 2, red or red and white, flashing or rotating warning lamps located in, on, behind or in front of the vehicle's radiator grill. The lamps shall be designed and mounted so as to be plainly visible and understandable from a distance of 500 feet during both normal sunlight and hours of darkness.

(b) The lights required in par. (a) 1. may be replaced with a light bar with 2 or more rotating or flashing red or red and white lights which covers the same area.

(c) The lights required in par. (a) 2. may be replaced with rotating red or red and white lights revolving or flashing on a horizontal plane.

(d) Emergency warning lamps may not be obstructed by open doors.

(e) Ambulance service providers may not be required to alter emergency warning lamps already installed on ambulances in service prior to November 1, 1986.

(f) The lamps shall be designed and mounted to be plainly visible and recognizable as emergency vehicle lights from a distance of 500 feet during both normal sunlight and hours of darkness.

(g) A flashing amber light may be installed to the rear top, positioned equally between the 2 top mounted corner flashing red lights, or 2 amber lights may be installed to the rear mounted to the insides of the 2 corner flashing red lights.

(3) FLOODLAMPS. Sealed flood lighting units shall be located at the rear and on the left and right sides of the ambulance. Flood-lamps shall be integrally mounted below the roof line but not less than 75 inches above the ground and may not be obstructed by open doors. Each flood lamp shall have a minimum of 800 candle-power output. Flood lighting at the rear shall be arranged to illuminate the ground area immediately surrounding the loading doors. The switches shall be shielded and shall control each side separately.

(4) FIGURE. Lighting requirements described in this section are illustrated in figure 1.

Figure 1 - Emergency Lighting

Click to view image

Notes

Wis. Admin. Code Department of Transportation Trans 309.15

Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86; correction in (1) made under s. 13.93(2m) (b) 7, Stats., Register, April, 1987, No. 376; am. (1), (2) (a) 5., (b) and (e), Register, April, 1994, No. 460, eff. 5-1-94; am. (2) (b), (c) and (e), Cr. (f), Register, February, 1999, No. 518, eff. 4-1-99. Amended by, CR 19-074: am. (1), (2) (c), cr. (2) (g), (4), (Figure 1) Register October 2020 No. 778, eff. 11-1-20; correction in (2) (g) made under s. 35.17, Stats., and (4) (title) created under s. 13.92(4) (b) 2, Stats. Register October 2020 No. 778, eff. 11/1/2020