Portland, Ore. — There’s something new on top of some TriMet buses.

TriMet’s Tia York says TriMet launched a pilot project with the amber safety lights back in April. They are currently installed on 30 buses, 10 from each garage. The light on the front of the bus is designed as a warning to pedestrians and cyclists. It illuminates any time the bus is moving forward. The light on the back is geared toward auto drivers traveling behind the bus. It lights up as the bus slows to a stop, while stopped and anytime the bus is placed in reverse.

The lights are seen as a relatively inexpensive way to enhance the safety of bus riders, operators, pedestrians, cyclists and auto drivers, by reducing collisions.

TriMet plan to monitor feedback for the next 3-6 months and then make a determination whether to outfit our entire fleet of 700 buses with the lights.

The pilot program is based on a program adopted by Washington Metro. Their experience was overwhelmingly positive, and they quickly rolled out the lights to all 1,500 of their buses.

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