Vehicular safety sensor and warning system

• US 5,281,949 A
• Filed: 07/24/1992
• Issued: 01/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carolyn J. Jones, Catherine A. Belt, James F. Hire, John S. Hire
• Original Assignee: C.A.R.E., Inc.
• Inventors: Robson, Jerry A., Durley, Clarence W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/918,603
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 340/433, 340/436, 340/435, 340/901-904, 340/552, 340/501, 340/958, 340/815.21, 340/384 R, 340/384 E, 180/167, 180/169, 180/271, 364/461
• US Class Current: 340/433
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/56 for presence detection presence detection using near field arrangements G01V3/00, e.g. G01V3/08, G01V3/12; burglar, theft or intruder alarms with electrical actuation G08B13/22 - G08B13/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles

Abstract

A safety sensor and warning system, for use in combination with a motor vehicle, has sensors for determining if personnel are present in one or more predetermined danger zones proximate to the vehicle, during times when the vehicle is undergoing the loading and/or unloading of personnel; if the presence of such personnel is determined within any one or more of such danger zones related warning apparatus such as lamps and/or horn create a sensory warning signal whereby the driver of the vehicle is made aware of such presence by the personnel as well as warning the personnel within the danger zones and others beyond the danger zone of the presence of such personnel; Microwave Doppler Shift Radar detects objects by reacting to a reflected radio signal of controlled strength and frequency which shifts off its original frequency when reflected off of an object of adequate density moving into, or changing position, within the range of the radiated radio signal and its consequent reflection; the sensors for determining if personnel are present in one or more predetermined danger zones utilize this known Microwave Doppler Shift Radar Technology and are electronically and physically designed to detect objects of only predetermined density or mass which translates to an animate object, as a person, and to not detect small debris-type objects such as, for example, leaves, snowflakes, light rainfall, fog, blowing dust, small tree limbs, rocks and birds.

Claims

1. A safety system for use in combination with a motor vehicle which transports personnel and which has periods of time during which said vehicle is stopped and undergoes loading or unloading of personnel, said safety system comprising first means for sensing the presence of a person within an area at least in close proximity to said vehicle and externally thereof, wherein said area is considered as a danger zone whereby any person within said danger zone is at risk of being injured by said vehicle if said vehicle should start into motion from its stopped condition, second means for creating a first sensory warning signal whenever said first means senses the presence of a person within said danger zone, wherein said first sensory warning signal is created within said vehicle as to thereby make the driver of said vehicle aware of a person being detected in said danger zone, third means for creating a second sensory warning signal whenever said first means senses the presence of a person within said danger zone, wherein said second warning signal is created generally externally of said vehicle as to thereby make the person within said danger zone aware that said person'"'"'s presence within said danger zone has been detected and that said person is in said danger zone, wherein said second means continues creating said first sensory warning signal and said third means continues creating said second sensory warning signal at least for as long as said person is detected by said first means as being in said danger zone, and further comprising traffic horn means carried by said motor vehicle for manual actuation by said driver as during operation of said motor vehicle during normal traffic operation as to thereby create a horn warning sound to drivers of other vehicles in such traffic, and additional means responsive to said motor vehicle being stopped and undergoing loading or unloading of personnel and effective for automatically causing cyclic energization and de-energization of said vehicular traffic horn means when a person is detected as being within said danger zone.

2. A safety system according to claim 1 wherein said first means comprises radar generator and receiver means, wherein said radar generator means produces radar waves, and wherein said danger zone in size corresponds substantially to the distance that said radar waves are effective to be returned and sensed by said receiver means.

3. A safety system according to claim 1 wherein said first sensory warning signal comprises an auditory signal.

4. A safety system according to claim 1 wherein said second sensory warning signal comprises an auditory signal.

5. A safety system according to claim 1 wherein said first sensory warning signal comprises a first auditory signal, and wherein said second sensory warning signal comprises a second auditory signal.

6. A safety system according to claim 1 wherein said first sensory warning signal comprises a first auditory signal, wherein said second sensory warning signal comprises a second auditory signal, and wherein said third means comprises piezoelectric horn means.

7. A safety system according to claim 1 wherein said first sensory warning signal comprises a first auditory signal, wherein said second sensory warning signal comprises a second auditory signal, wherein said second means comprises an electrically driven horn-like assembly, and wherein said third means comprises piezoelectric horn means.

8. A safety system according to claim 1 wherein said first means comprises radar generator and receiver means, wherein said radar generator means produces radar waves, wherein said danger zone in size corresponds substantially to the distance that said radar waves are effective to be returned and sensed by said receiver means, and wherein said first sensory warning signal comprises an auditory signal.

9. A safety system according to claim 1 wherein said first means comprises radar generator and receiver means, wherein said radar generator means produces radar waves, wherein said danger zone in size corresponds substantially to the distance that said radar waves are effective to be returned and sensed by said receiver means, wherein said first sensory warning signal comprises an auditory signal, and wherein said second sensory warning signal comprises an auditory signal.

10. A safety system according to claim 1 wherein said first means comprises radar generator and receiver means, wherein said radar generator means produces radar waves, wherein said danger zone in size corresponds substantially to the distance that said radar waves are effective to be returned and sensed by said receiver means, wherein said first sensory warning signal comprises a first auditory signal, wherein said second sensory warning signal comprises a second auditory signal, and wherein said third means comprises piezoelectric horn means.

11. A safety system according to claim 1 wherein said first means comprises radar generator and receiver means, wherein said radar generator means produces radar waves, wherein said danger zone in size corresponds substantially to the distance that said radar waves are effective to be returned and sensed by said receiver means, wherein said first sensory warning signal comprises a first auditory signal, wherein said second sensory warning signal comprises a second auditory signal, wherein said second means comprises an electrically driven horn-like assembly, and wherein said third means comprises piezoelectric horn means.

12. A safety system according to claim 1 and further comprising fourth means for creating a third sensory warning signal whenever said first means senses the presence of a person within said danger zone, wherein said third sensory warning signal is created generally internally of said vehicle, wherein said first and second sensory warning signals are auditory, and wherein said third sensory warning signal is visual.

13. A safety system according to claim 12 and further comprising lamp means situated generally within said vehicle, and wherein light emitted by said lamp means comprises said third sensory warning signal.

14. A safety system according to claim 13 wherein said lamp means comprises a light emitting diode, and wherein said light emitting diode remains in an energized state for so long as said first means detects the presence of a person within said danger zone.

15. A safety system according to claim 14 wherein said light emitting diode is cyclically energized and de-energized after said first means ceases to detect any person within said danger zone.

16. A safety system according to claim 15 wherein said second means for creating a first sensory warning signal and wherein said third means for creating a second sensory warning signal remain in an energized state for so long as said first means detects the presence of a person within said danger zone.

17. A safety system according to claim 16 wherein said second means and said third means are cyclically energized and de-energized after said first means ceases to detect any person within said danger zone.

18. A safety system according to claim 17 and further comprising a first plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies carried by said vehicle generally externally thereof and at a rearward portion of said vehicle and positioned as to when energized emit a warning light generally rearwardly of said vehicle, a second plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies carried by said vehicle generally externally thereof and at a forward portion of said vehicle and positioned as to when energized emit a warning light generally forwardly of said vehicle, wherein said first plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies and said second plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies are energized generally simultaneously when said vehicle is stopped, and wherein said first means said second means and said third means can become operative only upon energization of said first and second pluralities of warning-type lamp assemblies.

19. A safety system according to claim 18 and further comprising a flasher controller assembly, wherein when said first plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies and said second plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies are energized the energization thereof is through said flasher controller assembly which causes said first and second pluralities of warning-type lamp assemblies to be cyclically energized and de-energized in the time that said vehicle is stopped.

20. A safety system according to claim 18 and further comprising headlamp assemblies carried by said vehicle generally externally of said vehicle and at a forward portion of said vehicle, and control circuit means operatively connected to said headlamp assemblies to thereby cyclically energize said headlamp assemblies in the time that said vehicle is stopped.

21. A safety system according to claim 20 wherein said control circuit means is responsive to a first cyclic electrical signal received from said first and second pluralities of warning-type lamp assemblies that such first and second pluralities of warning-type lamp assemblies are being cyclically energized, wherein said control circuit means is responsive to a second continuous electrical signal received from said flasher controller assembly, and whereupon receiving said first cyclic electrical signal and said second continuous electrical signal said control circuit means becomes effective to cyclically energize said headlamp assemblies in a manner whereby the high beam component of the headlamp assemblies is energized and then the low beam component of the headlamp assemblies is energized with such alternate energization of the high beam and low beam components continuing for at least as long as said first and second pluralities of warning-type lamp assemblies are energized.

22. A safety system according to claim 18 and further comprising headlamp assemblies carried by said vehicle generally externally of said vehicle and at a forward portion of said vehicle and positioned as to emit light when energized generally forwardly of said vehicle, stop-lamp assemblies carried by said vehicle generally externally of said vehicle and at a rearward portion of said vehicle and positioned as to emit a warning light when energized generally rearwardly of said vehicle, and control circuit means operatively connected to said headlamp assemblies and to said stop-lamp assemblies to thereby cyclically energize said headlamp assemblies and said stop-lamp assemblies during the time that said vehicle is stopped.

23. A safety system according to claim 1 and further comprising defeat means selectively made operable to prevent the cyclic energization and de-energization of said vehicular traffic horn means.

24. A safety system according to claim 1 wherein in the absence of any person being sensed as present within any of said danger zones, said vehicular traffic horn means ceases to be energized.

25. A safety system according to claim 1 wherein cyclic energization and de-energization of said vehicular traffic horn means does not occur during said "Initial Phase" of said "Scan Time" or during said "Shutting-Down-Phase" of said safety system.

26. A safety system for use in combination with a motor vehicle which transports personnel and which has periods of time during which said vehicle is stopped and undergoes loading or unloading of personnel, said safety system comprising first means for sensing the presence of a person within an area at least in close proximity to said vehicle and externally thereof, wherein said area is considered as a danger zone in that any person within said danger zone is at risk of being injured by said vehicle if said vehicle should start into motion from its stopped condition, second means for creating a first sensory warning signal whenever said first means senses the presence of a person within said danger zone, third means for creating a second sensory warning signal whenever said first means senses the presence of a person within said danger zone, wherein at least one of said first and second sensory warning signals is created within said vehicle as to thereby make the driver of said vehicle aware of a person being detected in said danger zone, wherein said second means continues creating said first sensory warning signal and said third means continues creating said second sensory warning signal at least for as long as said person is detected by said first means as being in said danger zone, and further comprising traffic horn means carried by said motor vehicle for manual actuation by said driver as during operation of said motor vehicle during normal traffic operation as to thereby create a horn warning sound to drivers of other vehicles in such traffic, and additional means responsive to said motor vehicle being stopped and undergoing loading and unloading of personnel and effective for automatically causing cyclic energization and de-energization of said vehicular traffic horn means when a person is detected as being within said danger zone.

27. A safety system according to claim 26 wherein said second means and said third means respectively continue to create said first and second sensory warning signals for a preselected span of time next following the cessation of sensing the presence of a person within said danger zone.

28. A safety system according to claim 26 and further comprising a first plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies carried by said vehicle at a rearward portion of said vehicle and positioned as to when energized emit a warning light generally rearwardly of said vehicle, a second plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies carried by said vehicle at a forward portion of said vehicle and positioned as to when energized emit a warning light generally forwardly of said vehicle, wherein said first plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies and said second plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies are energized when said vehicle is stopped, and wherein said first and second means are operative when said first and second pluralities of warning-type lamp assemblies are energized.

29. A safety system according to claim 28 and further comprising a flasher controller assembly, wherein when said first plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies and said second plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies are energized the energization thereof is through said flasher controller assembly which causes said first and second pluralities of warning-type lamp assemblies to be cyclically energized and de-energized in the time that said vehicle is stopped.

30. A safety system according to claim 28 and further comprising headlamp assemblies carried by said vehicle at a forward portion of said vehicle, and control circuit means operatively connected to said headlamp assemblies to thereby cyclically energize said headlamp assemblies when said vehicle is stopped for loading or unloading personnel.

31. A safety system according to claim 28 and further comprising headlamp assemblies carried by said vehicle at a forward portion of said vehicle and positioned as to emit when energized light generally forwardly of said vehicle, stop-lamp assemblies carried by said vehicle and at a rearward portion of said vehicle and positioned as to emit a warning light when energized generally rearwardly of said vehicle, and control circuit means operatively connected to said headlamp assemblies and to said stop-lamp assemblies to thereby cyclically energize said headlamp assemblies and said stop-lamp assemblies in the time that said vehicle is stopped.

32. A safety system according to claim 26 and further comprising electrical circuit means operatively connected to said first means, and wherein said electrical circuit means comprises diagnostic means for determining if a functional failure has occurred in said electrical circuit means and for determining if a functional failure has occurred in said first means.

33. A safety system according to claim 32 and further comprising indicator means for indicating that said functional failure in either said first means or said electrical circuit means has occurred.

34. A school bus for the transport of school age children, said bus comprising a bus body structure, said bus body structure comprising left side and right side exterior body panel means, said body structure further comprising front exterior body panel means operatively connected to both said left and right side exterior body panel means, said body structure further comprising rear exterior body panel means operatively connected to both said left and right side exterior body panel means, a bus interior defined generally by and between said left and right side exterior body panel means and between said front and rear exterior body panel means, a door opening formed in at least one of said side exterior body panel means for access to said bus interior as well as egress from said bus interior, a bus door effective for opening and closing said door opening, a bus driver'"'"'s area within said bus interior and provided with driver controlled bus steering means and with an array of operating controls, a first plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies carried by said bus body structure at a rearward portion of said bus body structure and positioned as to when energized emit a warning light generally rearwardly of said bus body structure, a second plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies carried by said bus body structure at a forward portion of said bus body structure and positioned as to when energized emit a warning light generally forwardly of said bus body structure, a flasher controller situated generally in said bus driver'"'"'s area and operatively connected to said first plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies and to said second plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies, said flasher controller being effective when actuated to energize said first plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies and to energize said second plurality of warning-type lamp assemblies, electrical switch means effective to be electrically closed when said bus is stopped to permit loading or unloading of said children, said electrical switch means when electrically closed being effective to actuate said flasher controller and cause energization of said first and second pluralities of warning-type lamp assemblies, wherein said energization of said first and second pluralities of warning-type lamp assemblies is cyclic thereby causing said first and second pluralities of warning-type lamp assemblies to operate in a flashing mode and emit a flashing light, a plurality of sensor assemblies carried by said bus, a first of said plurality of sensor assemblies being carried generally beneath said bus body structure and near a forward portion thereof and situated as to be operationally forwardly directed, a second of said plurality of sensor assemblies being operatively carried by said bus body structure and situated as to be operationally rearwardly directed, a third of said plurality of sensor assemblies being operatively carried by said bus body structure generally inwardly of said left side exterior body panel means and situated as to be operationally directed leftward of said bus body structure, a fourth of said plurality of sensor assemblies being operatively carried by said bus body structure generally inwardly of said right side exterior body panel means and situated as to be operationally directed rightward of said bus body structure, wherein each of said first second third and fourth sensor assemblies comprises a housing, wherein said housing comprises printed circuit means electrically connected to a K-band radar transceiver and carrying electrical components for both controlling the operation of said K-band transceiver and for responding to the operation of said K-band transceiver, adjustment means carried within said housing for selectively adjusting and establishing the field of radar radiation to which said transceiver will be responsive, read-out means situated in said driver'"'"'s area, said read-out means comprising at least four energizable light sources, wherein a first of said at least four light sources is functionally related to and operationally coupled to said first sensor assembly, wherein a second of said at least four light sources is functionally related to and operatively coupled to said second sensor assembly, wherein a third of said at least four light sources is functionally related to and operatively coupled to said third sensor assembly, wherein said fourth of said at least four light sources is functionally related to and operatively coupled to said fourth sensor assembly, whereby when said flasher controller is actuated electrical power is supplied to each of said at least first second third and fourth sensor assemblies for energization thereof including all of said K-band radar transceivers, when energized the radar transceiver of said first sensor assembly being effective to monitor a first area generally forwardly of said bus body structure in order to detect the presence of any person in said first area, when energized the radar transceiver of said second sensor assembly being effective to monitor a second area generally rearwardly of said bus body structure in order to detect the presence of any person in said second area, when energized the radar transceiver of said third sensor assembly being effective to monitor a third area generally outwardly of said left side exterior body panel means in order to detect the presence of any person in said third area, when energized the radar transceiver of said fourth sensor assembly being effective to monitor a fourth area generally outwardly of said right side exterior body panel means in order to detect the presence of any person in said fourth area, upon detecting a person in said first area the radar transceiver of said first sensor assembly causing said first of said at least four light sources to be electrically energized thereby producing a first output light, upon detecting a person in said second area the radar transceiver of said second sensor assembly causing said second of said at least four light sources to be electrically energized thereby producing a second output light, upon detecting a person in said third area the radar transceiver of said third sensor assembly causing said third of said at least four light sources to be electrically energized thereby producing a third output light, upon detecting a person in said fourth area the radar transceiver of said fourth sensor assembly causing said fourth of said at least four light sources to be electrically energized thereby producing a fourth output light, said first output light serving to indicate to said driver that a person has been detected in said first area, Said second output light serving to indicate to said driver that a person has been detected in said second area, said third output light serving to indicate to said driver that a person has been detected in said third area, said fourth output light serving to indicate to said driver that a person has been detected in said fourth area, and further comprising bus carried traffic horn means for manual actuation by said driver as during operation of said bus during normal traffic operation as to thereby create a horn warning sound to drivers of other vehicles in such traffic, and additional means responsive to said bus being stopped and undergoing loading or unloading of personnel and effective for automatically causing cyclic energization and de-energization of said bus carried traffic horn means when a person is detected in any of said first second third or fourth areas.

35. A school bus according to claim 34 wherein said read-out means also comprises electrically energizable auditory signal generating means, said electrically energizable auditory signal means being energized to produce an auditory output signal for warning said driver that a person has been detected in any of said first second third or fourth areas.

36. A school bus according to claim 35 wherein said electrically energizable auditory signal generating means comprises a single generator of auditory sound, and wherein said single generator of auditory sound is energized whenever the radar transceiver of any of said first second third or fourth sensor assemblies detects a person in either the first second third or fourth areas.

37. A school bus according to claim 34 wherein said first output light is continuous and non-segmented and continues for at least as long as said radar transceiver of said first sensor assembly continues to detect a person in said first area.

38. A school bus according to claim 34 wherein said second output light is continuous and non-segmented and continues for at least as long as said radar transceiver of said second sensor assembly continues to detect a person in said second area.

39. A school bus according to claim 34 wherein said third output light is continuous and non-segmented and continues for at least as long as said radar transceiver of said third sensor assembly continues to detect a person in said third area.

40. A school bus according to claim 34 wherein said fourth output light is continuous and non-segmented and continues for at least as long as said radar transceiver of said fourth sensor assembly continues to detect a person in said fourth area.

41. A school bus according to claim 35 wherein said auditory output signal is continuous and non-segmented and continues for at least as long as said radar transceiver of said first sensor assembly continues to detect a person in said first area, and wherein said first output light is continuous and non-segmented and continues for at least as long as said radar transceiver of said first sensor assembly continues to detect a person in said first area.

42. A school bus according to claim 34 wherein each of said first second third and fourth light sources continue to be energized and respectively produce said first second third and fourth output lights for as long as the respective radar transceivers of said first second third and fourth sensor assemblies continue detecting a person in said respective first second third and fourth areas, and wherein said first second third and fourth light sources continue to be energized for a preselected span of time after said respective radar transceivers of said first second third and fourth sensor assemblies cease detecting a person in said respective first second third and fourth areas.

43. A school bus according to claim 34 wherein said electrical switch means is electrically closed in response to said door being opened.

44. A school bus according to claim 34 wherein said first second third and fourth sensor assemblies are electrically energized only upon said first and second pluralities of warning-type lamp assemblies being electrically energized.

45. A school bus according to claim 34 and further comprising a rear axle assembly for connection to ground engaging rear wheels of said bus, said rear axle assembly being situated in a rearward portion of said bus, wherein said bus body structure further comprises chassis means situated at an elevation generally below that of said bus interior and generally between said exterior body panel means as to be generally inwardly disposed relative thereto, and wherein said second of said plurality of sensor assemblies is operatively carried by said chassis as to be generally rearward of said rear axle assembly and operationally directed rearwardly of said rear axle assembly.

46. A school bus according to claim 34 wherein said bus body structure further comprises chassis means situated at an elevation generally below that of said bus interior and generally between said exterior body panel means as to be generally inwardly disposed relative thereto, and wherein said third of said plurality of sensor assemblies is operatively carried by said chassis generally inwardly of said left side exterior body panel means.

47. A school bus according to claim 34 wherein said bus body structure further comprises chassis means situated at an elevation generally below that of said bus interior and generally between said exterior body panel means as to be generally inwardly disposed relative thereto, and wherein said fourth of said plurality of sensor assemblies is operatively carried by said chassis generally inwardly of said right side body panel means.

48. A school bus according to claim 34 and further comprising a front axle assembly for connection to ground engaging front wheels of said bus, said front axle assembly being situated in a forward portion of said bus, and wherein said first of said plurality of sensor assemblies is operatively carried by said front axle assembly.

49. A school bus according to claim 34 wherein said read-out means further comprises a design carried thereby which visually represents the outer configuration of said bus, and wherein said first second third and fourth light sources are physically located with respect to said design as to thereby provide a sense of orientation to said driver whenever any of said light sources are electrically energized.

50. A school bus according to claim 34 and further comprising microwave absorber material placed in proximity to at least one of said radar transceivers of said first second third and fourth sensor assemblies to prevent spurious bounce-back of radar waves to said at least one of said radar transceivers.

51. A school bus according to claim 34 and further comprising microwave absorber material situated within at least one of said housings, and wherein said microwave absorber material is in proximity to the radar transceiver carried by said one housing.

52. A school bus according to claim 34 and further comprising microwave absorber material situated within at least one of said housings containing a radar transceiver, wherein said microwave absorber material is in proximity to said radar transceiver and formed as to have an arcuate configuration at least in part circumscribing said radar transceiver.

53. A school bus according to claim 34 and further comprising first additional electrically energizable auditory signal generating means, second additional electrically energizable auditory signal generating means, third additional electrically energizable auditory signal generating means, fourth additional electrically energizable auditory signal generating means, wherein said first additional electrically energizable auditory signal generating means is operatively connected to said first sensor assembly as to become energized and produce an auditory signal outside of said bus and generally toward said first area whenever said radar transceiver of said first sensor assembly detects the presence of any person in said first area, wherein said second additional electrically energizable auditory signal generating means is operatively connected to said second sensor assembly as to become energized and produce an auditory signal outside of said bus and generally toward said second area whenever said radar transceiver of said second sensor assembly detects the presence of any person in said second area, wherein said third additional electrically energizable auditory signal generating means is operatively connected to said third sensor assembly as to become energized and produce an auditory signal outside of said bus and generally toward said third area whenever said radar transceiver of said third sensor assembly detects the presence of any person in said third area, and wherein said fourth additional electrically energizable auditory signal generating means is operatively connected to said fourth sensor assembly as to become energized and produce an auditory signal outside of said bus and generally toward said fourth area whenever said radar transceiver of said fourth sensor assembly detects the presence of any person in said fourth area.

54. A school bus according to claim 34 wherein said electrical power is supplied by means of a power supply circuit comprising step-up switching regulator means for assuring that said electrical power being supplied does not decrease below a preselected magnitude of voltage.

55. A school bus according to claim 34 and further comprising headlamp assemblies carried by said bus at a generally forward portion of said bus, and control circuit means operatively connected to said headlamp assemblies to thereby cyclically energize said headlamp assemblies in that time that said bus is stopped.

56. A school bus according to claim 55 wherein said control circuit means is responsive to a first cyclic electrical signal received from said first and second pluralities of warning-type lamp assemblies indicative that such first and second pluralities of warning-type lamp assemblies are being cyclically energized, wherein said control circuit means is responsive to a second continuous electrical signal received from said flasher controller, and whereupon receiving said first cyclic electrical signal and said second continuous electrical signal said control circuit means becomes effective to cyclically energize said headlamp assemblies in a manner whereby the high beam component of the headlamp assemblies is energized and then de-energized with such alternate or cyclic energization and de-energization of said high beam component continuing for at least as long as said first and second pluralities of warning-type lamp assemblies are energized.

57. A school bus according to claim 55 wherein said control circuit means is responsive to a first cyclic electrical signal received from said first and second pluralities of warning-type lamp assemblies indicative that such first and second pluralities of warning-type lamp assemblies are being cyclically energized, wherein said control circuit means is responsive to a second continuous electrical signal received from said flasher controller, and whereupon receiving said first cyclic electrical signal and said second continuous electrical signal said control circuit means becomes effective to cyclically energize said headlamp assemblies in a manner whereby the high beam component of the headlamp assemblies is energized and then the low beam component of the headlamp assemblies is energized with such alternate energization of the high beam and low beam components continuing for at least as long as said first and second pluralities of warning-type lamp assemblies are energized.

58. A school bus according to claim 34 and further comprising headlamp assemblies carried by said bus generally at a forward portion of said bus and positioned as to emit light when energized generally forwardly of said bus, stop-lamp assemblies carried by said bus generally at a rearward portion of said bus and positioned as to emit a warning light when energized generally rearwardly of said bus, and control circuit means operatively connected to said headlamp assemblies and to said stop-lamp assemblies to thereby cyclically energize said headlamp assemblies and said stop-lamp assemblies during the time that said bus is stopped for loading or unloading.

59. A school bus according to claim 42 wherein each of said radar transceivers of said first second third and fourth sensor assemblies continues to act as if a person is detected in the respective areas for a preselected span of time after ceasing the detection of a person in the respective areas, and wherein if a person again enters any of said respective areas within said span of time the related sensor assembly and its radar transceiver continue operation as if no absence of a person had occurred.

60. A school bus according to claim 42 wherein each of said radar transceivers of said first second third and fourth sensor assemblies continues to act as if a person is still detected in the respective areas for a preselected span of time after ceasing the actual detection of a person in the respective areas, and wherein if a person does not again enter any of said respective areas within said span of time, the four energizable light sources are cyclically electrically pulsed "on" and "off" for a preselected length of time.

61. A school bus according to claim 60 wherein if within said preselected length of time no person enters any of said areas, the four energizable light sources stop being cyclically pulsed "on" and "off" and merely go into an "off" mode while all of said radar transceivers are in a mode to sense the presence of a person in said areas if a person should then enter any of said areas.

62. A safety system according to claim 34 and further comprising diagnostic testing means for automatically testing said plurality of sensor assemblies and producing an output signal to said driver that said sensor assemblies are functionally operative.

63. A school bus according to claim 34 and further comprising defeat means selectively made operable to prevent the cyclic energization and de-energization of said bus traffic horn means.

64. A school bus according to claim 34 wherein in the absence of any person being sensed as being present in any of said first second third and fourth areas, said bus traffic horn means ceases to be energized.