Explaining the Color Variations of Emergency Lights

When you are out driving on the road, one of the most important things that you should learn about is the variation of colors in the emergency lighting used by different vehicles (which can be used by the government or private institutions).

In case there's a fire or a medical emergency somewhere, it is your responsibility as a diver to give way to the vehicle flashing emergency lights so that they can get to where they are headed in an instant.

A Quick Look at How These Lights are Constructed

Before delving deeper into the meaning of the individual colors, let us first learn about how these lights are constructed. There are several types being used for emergency situations.

This includes rotating, strobe or LED lights (Light Emitting Diode). Also, depending on the vehicle, the emergency lights can be mounted on the top of the roof, it can come in the form of a light bar, it can be mounted on the body or interior of the vehicle and it can also be an integral part of the vehicle's construction.

However, out of all these types of lights, the one which is most commonly used are the LED's. Take a look at the following benefits of LED's as compared to other forms:

• LED's are extremely reliable & unlike other types of bulbs, they don't have a filament which burns or shakes loose.
• LED's have an intense color spectrum which makes the color recognizable even in an outdoors environment.
• LED's require very little current to operate, making them ideal for emergency vehicles as they don't drain the battery.

The Colors Used in the United States

Now, here is a quick guide that you can use to recognize the meaning of the color of light used. Remember that these colors differ in each country, and the following are applicable for emergency vehicles in the United States:

1. Amber or Yellow: This color designates utility vehicles which could be moving slower than usual. Amber lights can be seen in tow and construction trucks, security patrol cars, funeral escorts or vehicles used to remove snow.

2. Blue: Blue is typically used on law enforcement vehicles – but they are also used in tow trucks and in the vehicles of volunteer firefighters in other states.

3. Green: Depending on the state where it is used, a green light designates a fire chief's car, a mobile command post, a volunteer firefighter's truck or private security guards.

4. Purple: There are some states where purple lights are used to denote a funeral vehicle.

5. Red: This is probably the most familiar color, which is used to denote an emergency.

6. White: A flashing white light can be used by school buses or fueling tankers.

These colored lights are a great 'attention grabber' when used properly on the road. The problem will be addressed immediately if every driver out on the road knows what these colors represent, so that the proper action can be taken in any kind of emergency situation.