CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1904

Introduced by Assembly Member Ward

January 23, 2024

An act to amend Section 24617 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1904, as introduced, Ward. Transit buses: yield right-of-way sign.
Existing law authorizes a transit bus in the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to be equipped with a yield right-of-way sign on the left rear of the bus if the applicable entity approves a resolution requesting that this section be made applicable to it. Existing law requires the sign to be designed to warn a person operating a motor vehicle approaching the rear of the bus that the bus is entering traffic and be illuminated by a red flashing light when the bus is signaling in preparation for entering a traffic lane after having stopped to receive or discharge passengers.
This bill would expand the authorization to equip transit buses, as described above, to apply to any transit agency if the transit agency approves a resolution that this authorization be made applicable to it. The bill would also authorize the yield right-of-way sign to be a static decal, and would only impose the above-described design and illumination requirements on a sign that is a flashing light-emitting diode (LED) sign.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 24617 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

24617.
 (a) A transit bus may be authorized to be equipped with a yield right-of-way sign on the left rear of the bus. The yield right-of-way sign may flash simultaneously with the rear turn signal lamps, but is not required to do so. The sign may also be a static decal that is affixed to the left rear of the bus. If the sign is a flashing light-emitting diode (LED) sign, it shall be both of the following:
(1) Designed to warn a person operating a motor vehicle approaching the rear of the bus that the bus is entering traffic.
(2) Illuminated by a red flashing light when the bus is signaling in preparation for entering a traffic lane after having stopped to receive or discharge passengers.
(b) This section does not require a transit agency to install the yield right-of-way sign described in subdivision (a).
(c) This section does not relieve the driver of a transit bus from the duty to drive the bus with due regard for the safety of all persons and property. This section does not exempt the driver of a transit bus from Section 21804.
(d) This section applies only to the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, if the governing board of the applicable entity transit agency approves a resolution, after a public hearing on the issue, requesting that this section be made applicable to it.
(e) A participating transit agency shall undertake a public education program to encourage motorists to yield to a transit bus when the sign specified in subdivision (a) is activated.