|
Strobe Beacons – Uses of Strobe Beacons
Emergency vehicles and tow trucks rely upon the strobe lights on their vehicles to provide adequate warning for other motorists and pedestrians that there is an emergency on the roadway. Drivers know to respond to these warning lights so it is imperative that the strobe beacons on top of emergency vehicles are operating properly. There are different types of light bars and lights but the most modern beacons use LED lights. There are also beacons that can be hidden inside of a law enforcement vehicle so that when the lights are not lit no one can tell that the vehicle is used for law enforcement.
Colors of strobe beacons vary and most states have laws that regulate which color of light can be displayed on a vehicle. Red is most commonly used for an emergency vehicle such as an ambulance or fire truck. Amber or yellow lights are usually used by construction vehicles, tow trucks, or snow plow trucks. Strobe beacons are needed in constructions zones so that drivers are alerted to route changes and road closures. Most drivers associate the colors blue and white with police or law enforcement vehicles. Some states allow physicians who are responding to emergency calls to use a green light. If you decide to purchase a beacon for your vehicle, make sure that you are displaying the beacon that is permissible by law.
When you decide to use strobe beacons, make sure that you are following the law. Some states indicate that the blue lights may flash only when the driver decides that they should be or when a police vehicle is stopped at the scene of an emergency. If you are driving to the scene of an emergency and you are a member of a fire department or first aid squad, be aware that using the flashing beacon does not automatically grant you permission to ignore all traffic laws.
Public safety vehicles are designed so that warning lights can be used effectively. Before buying strobe beacons, check to make sure that the beacon can be installed into your vehicle. When you are installing a beacon, you are often combining the beacon with other items such as cameras or sirens. Make sure that all of these items will fit onto your vehicle. Choose a beacon with a mounting kit that will work with your vehicle. The beacon should be able to handle extreme vibration or moisture. Flashing beacons provide a necessary and critical part of warning drivers when an emergency vehicle or law enforcement vehicle is trying to respond to an emergency call.
|
