subject: Different Types And Uses Of Emergency Vehicle Lights In Maintaining Public Safety [print this page] The purpose of emergency vehicle lights is to alert those on the road that an emergency situation is taking place. It may mean that drivers on the road need to clear the roadways to allow an emergency vehicle or police car through or to beware of a hazard on the road, such as a disabled car on the shoulder.
There are several different types of emergency vehicle lights. There are ones which burn continuously, such as those used by emergency workers to light the area while they work. Typically steady burning emergency lights are used in conjunction with flashing lights.
A perhaps more common type of emergency light found on vehicles is the rotating light. Rotating emergency vehicle lights can be found in lightbars or single beacons. These lights revolve around and often have one bulb them with a curved mirror which spins around them. This makes a beam of light which rotates around, creating the appearance of a flashing light. The bulb is usually covered over with a dome made of plastic to protect it from the elements.
Strobe lights are yet another form of emergency light. These emergency vehicle lights are flash lamps containing xenon. These strobe lights shoot out a quick bright flash of light by ionizing followed by a discharge of a big current through the xenon gas. The light that is emitted creates a color that is fuchsia-pink when glowing through red lightbars.
Emergency vehicle lights are typically LED-based. For example, the lightbars you see on top of a polic car is LED-based. LED stands for light-emitting diodes. They are small and of a solid state. They last a very long time and can be seen from a very far distance. Although LED emergency lights are typically used in the same fashion as strobe lights, they can also be programmed to for flashing patterns.
There are many different ways to mount emergency vehicle lights. They can be mounted almost anywhere on a vehicle. Where you place them will often depend on whether or not you wish your special presence to be known. Emergency lights can be mounted to the roof of a vehicle, whether it be a single beacon or a lightbar. Some emergency lights are mounted on the outside of the emergency vehicle and it is usually affixed permanently. This type of mounting is typically for purposes of providing directional lighting (at the front of the vehicle) or as scene protection (at the back of the vehicle). Common mounting locations are in the vehicle's grill or at the front of the rearview mirrors. You can even incorporate your emergency lighting in to the vehicle's existing lighting. For example, a modification can be made such that warning beacons are activated when a certain button is pushed.
Emergency vehicle lights can also be mounted in the inside of the vehicle in question. Typically, such interior emergency lighting is located on the dashboard, the visor, or on the rear deck. This type of lighting can allow for a more inconspicuous and discreet presence, such as in unmarked vehicles or volunteer responders.
There are many different types of emergency vehicle lights, as well as a variety of uses and placements. Each has its own purpose and effectiveness and all are important. So the next time you see a flashing light, respect the fact that an emergency is in progress and pull over quickly and safely.
