Wig Wag Flashing Mechanism

Emergency vehicles have a privileged existence on the road

. They can cross the speed limit, run traffic signals, or change lanes and overtake other vehicles with scant regard to rules. Their lights and sirens display this special status and also by the wig wag mechanism they use to flash their lights.

In the beginning the wig wag usage was restricted to the main headlights in front of the vehicles. Later it started getting used at the rear as well, especially during low visibility situations like fog or rain, to warn the approaching vehicles at the back. Reversing vehicles also sometimes use it, while nowadays roof mounted light bars also use wig wag lights to make the light more visible and the warning mechanism more effective.

Wig wag flashing patterns vary a lot. The simplest pattern is the alternate flashing of the right and left lights. Or the two lights may get switched on and switched off together. This turn-by-turn flashing may be done at various speeds ranging from very slow to pretty fast. Sometimes alternate flashing of the right and left is followed by switching the light on and off together, and the cycle will be repeated. There are many convoluted patterns of wig wag that involve mixed cycles of slow and swift and random flashing.

A wig wag device is used by some in the brake lights of a motorbike. 5 quick flashes of the right and left lights, then 3 short flashes of both together, and then 4 short flashes of both together, is a pattern used in many brake lights. The last four flashes get repeated till the user releases the brake. It is considered a better warning mechanism than a motionless light.

A wig wag flasher kit can be mounted anywhere inside the vehicle according to the user's convenience. The wires have to be separated and connected to the headlights at the front. Besides motor vehicles, this patterned flashing of lights is used in railroads, aircrafts, and also for signaling. Most countries prefer to use white lights for flashing, though there are exceptions.

One complaint against wig wag lighting is that they tend to produce the moth effect on other drivers on the road. Moth effect is described as the tendency of people to move towards something to which they are attracted, irrespective of the danger involved. It is so called because of the way moths plunge into a fire attracted by its incandescence. The parallel is drawn here to the possibility of vehicle drivers getting so focused on the flashing wig wag lights that they may lose control over the right direction they should take.

The wig wag mechanism makes the vehicle more visible, though some feel that the glare from the light is strong enough to momentarily blind the drivers of oncoming vehicles. Some prefer to use it on parked vehicles whereas others prefer to have it only on moving vehicles. As far as it is used in the right situations, wig wag lights will serve the users well.

by: Sunil Punjabi

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