Posts tagged with "emergency lighting"

Emergency lighting plays a critical role for the police, firefighters, and first responders. While the red and blue lights of police vehicles and fire trucks are commonplace, it is essential to remember that civilian vehicle operators may also use specific types of lighting. Here is a primer on the uses of emergency lighting for civilians.

First things first: it is important to look to Massachusetts state law before deciding on an emergency vehicle lighting setup. From the outset, civilian vehicle owners are not allowed to use blue- or red-colored lights–only police and firefighters may use these colors. A strobe light color that civilians may use is amber or yellow.

Second, your vehicle may need to be registered to use strobe lighting or emergency lighting before you may use it on the road. This point is especially crucial for vehicle operators who frequently use public roadways, such as towing or snow plowing companies.

Emergency Lighting and Other Uses

While there are strict regulations that apply to the use of emergency lighting on public roads, private citizens can still use this type of lighting on their properties for personal use. For instance, farmers are welcome to use emergency strobes on tractors and other farm vehicles as a way to enforce safety measures on their land. Emergency lighting can also be used on forklifts and similar warehousing vehicles, so long as they remain on the property on which they are used.

Standard headlights may not be enough for your truck. Depending on your job, volunteer work, or free-time activities, you may need to install specialty lighting.  The need for extra lighting depends on the purpose it’s always a good idea to talk directly with those who deal with these accessories to get the right ones.

For instance, volunteer or off-duty firefighters may need special lighting to respond to a blaze in the middle of the night or even a house located in a heavily wooded area. For this, they require emergency lighting. This type of light uses LED strobes to flash, catching the attention of everyone on the road and helping to allow these vehicles safe passage. LED is an efficient form of lighting that’s affordable, reliable, and long-lasting. Strobe lights work well for first responders, as well as those in the construction industry.

The need for additional lightning extends to trucks used for non-emergency purposes as well. For example, you can add a light bar to your off-road vehicle for safety at night, in the woods, or bad weather. Alternatively, you can install lighting to make it easier to see when backing up. Then, too, you can illuminate a truck bed or tailgate for visibility in a specific area. It’s all according to what you need for your pick-up truck.