A Strobe Light The Visible Warning On Emergency Vehicles
strobe lighting has been in use on emergency vehicles since the 1930's so it isn't a particularly modern invention
. The strobe light way back would have been probably the only visible warning light on an emergency vehicle other than a siren. The reason strobe lights are still in use today is that they are highly visible and can be seen from great distances. A stationary vehicle at a roadside is very vulnerable to oncoming traffic and they need a method to keep them visible and therefore safe.
A single strobe light is probably the one most people think of. It is quite an iconic image, a police vehicle with a single rotating strobe. Most single strobe lights now are used on construction vehicles to warn of their movement and hazard. A slowly rotating strobe is very visible and that is why it has remained popular even with the introduction of LED lights. The benefit of a strobe is that it is a high intensity light that can be seen in poor light or bad weather conditions.
On emergency vehicles these days you normally see a light bar on top of the vehicle. However there are still valid reasons to have a strobe light also. Some light bars contain a bank of strobe lights, and this makes for a very visible warning or indicator of hazard. Such strobe lights can be dash mounted and be in such a position is an excellent warning that there is a stationary vehicle. A single strobe light can be effective in giving people an idea of danger and will make most people react to the situation.
strobe lights rotate and can be seen over a 360-degree angle that means they are visible from all sides. A light bar if it is mounted to face the front of the vehicle does not give the same 360-degree lighting. The strobe light can therefore still claim to be a critical part of any lighting on an emergency vehicle. strobe lights can be fitted internally or externally and wherever they are placed on a vehicle they offer just extra bit of warning to road users and pedestrians.
When you consider how long strobe lights have been around it becomes a testament to how effective they are. Yes, the LED lighting on emergency vehicles is visible and comes in many different varieties. But the strobe remains popular. Emergency vehicles need to be seen in all lights and weather conditions and the strobe helps with that visibility. Most emergency vehicles will have a range of lighting both internally and externally and the strobe still has a part to play in helping keep emergency personnel safe at any scene they attend.