| Emergency lights for automobiles can come in an | | | | accompanied by red for emergency medical |
| amazingly broad array of colors, shapes and | | | | vehicles. |
| styles. Usually, such lighting is used to signal | | | | Emergency Light Types |
| surrounding traffic that an emergency is | | | | Emergency vehicle lights come in as many |
| underway, or a perhaps issue a lower grade | | | | varieties as they do colors. Perhaps the best |
| warning to communicate caution for vehicles to | | | | known shape is the red and blue "lightbar" of the |
| yield right of way. Independent contractors such | | | | police strobe. Lightbars can also be used on |
| as roofers, electricians, and security guards all | | | | emergency and service vehicles such as tow |
| benefit from the usage of emergency lighting in | | | | trucks or electric utility vehicles. Tow trucks will |
| appropriate situations. The number of local | | | | often run a red sidebar light, while electric utility |
| volunteer emergency personnel has also been on | | | | trucks will run amber or yellow. Small sidebar lights |
| the rise, creating even more of a need for the | | | | can also be interior mounted for "undercover" |
| properly applied use of emergency vehicle lights . | | | | work by police officers. Dash mounted lights are |
| Laws vary from state to state as to what colors | | | | completely invisible to traffic until activated. LED |
| are allowed for civilian use, so research your | | | | lightbars are more expensive than their halogen |
| locality for allowable color codes. The following | | | | counterparts, but they're also more efficient. A |
| classifications apply to the United States. | | | | popular trend in undercover law enforcement is to |
| Color code Overview | | | | place a small LED lightbar on the sun visor, where |
| Red is the best known of all the emergency light | | | | it's out of the way, but highly visible when |
| colors . Forward facing red lights are most often | | | | activated. |
| exclusively reserved for police and fire | | | | Beacon lights have a cylindrical shaped housing, |
| department, though they can also be used in | | | | containing one interior light that slowly rotates. |
| certain states for funeral hearses. | | | | They have fallen out of fashion in law |
| Blue lights are often reserved for law | | | | enforcement, being replaced by the ubiquitous red |
| enforcement in most states, but tow trucks and | | | | and blue strobe lightbar. Beacon lights are often |
| EMTs can legally use this color as well. Many | | | | seen today as more old fashioned; being identified |
| western states are also allowed to use blue lights | | | | with 50's era TV police dramas. Some police |
| on snowplows. | | | | departments however still use them as a matter |
| Amber/Yellow lights are traditionally used for | | | | of pride and tradition, one example being the |
| construction vehicles or tow trucks, indicating a | | | | Michigan State Police. Volunteer fire departments |
| vehicle is going slower than the flow of traffic. | | | | and security services will often use magnetic |
| This color is one of the most common colors | | | | mounted light beacons where they can be put on |
| used for non-emergency purposes, though they | | | | the roof of a car to notify traffic, and then put |
| can also signal danger, such as a downed power | | | | away when no longer needed. This is often called |
| line. | | | | the "Kojak" light, named after the 70s private |
| Green is a less common warning light color. Green | | | | detective TV character. |
| can signify a command vehicle such as a fire | | | | All emergency lighting often has dramatic |
| chief's car. EMTs and volunteer firefighters will | | | | connotations, such as in the "Kojak" example |
| often use green as if other colors in a given state | | | | above. However, emergency lights have a serious |
| ( such as blue ) are reserved. Green can also | | | | purpose and are designed for one essential |
| connote a HAZMAT vehicle. | | | | function; to quickly communicate a critical, time |
| White lights are often used as "sidebar" lights in | | | | sensitive situation. In the age of texting, Twitters |
| combination with other emergency colors. School | | | | and cell phones, no other form of communication |
| buses in some states are required to use a white | | | | approaches the effectiveness of emergency / |
| light beacon when dropping off and picking up | | | | auxiliary lighting when there is a need to quickly |
| passengers. White is also used as front lights | | | | inform surrounding traffic. |
