Flashing Lights on Vehicles: I thought this was interesting. Maybe I should print this and attach it to my dashboard. Or, maybe not. It's generally illegal to put flashing lights on...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I thought this was interesting. Maybe I should print this and attach it to my dashboard. Or, maybe not. It's generally illegal to put flashing lights on your car if you're not entitled to them. When I used to plow snow, I had an amber light on the top of my Jeep. It's good to know that I was legal fifty years ago.

EDIT: I discovered yesterday that state police cars can activate the front and rear lights of their light bars individually. Good idea. Maybe that was an extra-cost option.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

jerryc41 wrote:

I thought this was interesting. Maybe I should pr... (show quote)

These Laws/Rules vary from State to State

My major gripe involving flashing lights is their use on Roll Back "Wreckers" once loaded and driving down the highway, they are no longer an Emergency Vehicle!! they are just another truck transporting a piece of whatever.
When I drove Wreckers the only reason to have your Flashing lights on was if whatever you were towing was not tracking straight behind you, and you were/are supposed to have a lightbar with taillights, turn signals and brake lights attached to the rear of the towed vehicle, especially after dark.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Manglesphoto wrote:

These Laws/Rules vary from State to State br br M... (show quote)

As you said, laws vary. In NY, a tow truck must have flashing lights when it is hauling a car.

Flashing lights are a safety concern at night, though. Is it really necessary to have dozens of bright flashing lights? They make the area so bright that it blinds oncoming drivers.

Somewhat related - If you look at the rear end of many old cars, you'll notice that their taillights were tiny.

Stephan G

jerryc41 wrote:

As you said, laws vary. In NY, a tow truck must have flashing lights when it is hauling a car.

Flashing lights are a safety concern at night, though. Is it really necessary to have dozens of bright flashing lights? They make the area so bright that it blinds oncoming drivers.

Somewhat related - If you look at the rear end of many old cars, you'll notice that their taillights were tiny.

I remember the part in driver's ed that involved hand signals. Wish we had LED tipped gloves back then!

I wish that the lights were again limited to specific groups. Too many are driving with all sorts of lighting, sufficient to mix up reading the emergency vehicles.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Stephan G wrote:

I remember the part in driver's ed that involved hand signals. Wish we had LED tipped gloves back then!

I wish that the lights were again limited to specific groups. Too many are driving with all sorts of lighting, sufficient to mix up reading the emergency vehicles.

And most of those lights are illegal. Lighting laws are very restrictive and specific. In 1957, when GM introduced cars with four headlights, states had to scramble to change their laws. Even today, you can't have high beams and spotlights turned on.

polonois Loc: Lancaster County,PA.

Manglesphoto wrote:

These Laws/Rules vary from State to State br br M... (show quote)

I AGREE!

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

jerryc41 wrote:

I thought this was interesting. Maybe I should pr... (show quote)

This lighting scheme is not universal. Around here, volunteer firefighters use blinking blue lights, ambulances use red and white lights, and police use red and blue lights

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Bridges wrote:

This lighting scheme is not universal. Around here, volunteer firefighters use blinking blue lights, ambulances use red and white lights, and police use red and blue lights

Same here, but only volunteers use the blue lights. Fire engines have red lights.

Universal would be better, although does it really matter what kind of vehicle is coming up behind you with flashing lights? "It's okay, Bill. It's just a volunteer fireman. You don't have to move over."

NDMarks Loc: Dublin, Ca

Someone here said they have a problem with loaded tow transport trucks running lights. We had a case where a tow truck lost a car off of the top. The car behind them was ok because, according to the car driver, he saw the flashing yellow lights and held back. Also, most CHP cars have individual controlled front and rear facing lights because sometimes the officer does not want his/her front lights on to alert the person they are watching but want traffic behind them to be warned.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

NDMarks wrote:

Someone here said they have a problem with loaded tow transport trucks running lights. We had a case where a tow truck lost a car off of the top. The car behind them was ok because, according to the car driver, he saw the flashing yellow lights and held back. Also, most CHP cars have individual controlled front and rear facing lights because sometimes the officer does not want his/her front lights on to alert the person they are watching but want traffic behind them to be warned.

In NY, tow trucks must use flashing lights only when the car being towed has wheels on the ground. If it's been winched up onto the bed, then lights aren't necessary.

NDMarks Loc: Dublin, Ca

Whenever I see a tow truck with a car on top I wonder what I would do if the car comes loose. It happens. Some tow truck drivers are more thorough than others.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

NDMarks wrote:

Whenever I see a tow truck with a car on top I wonder what I would do if the car comes loose. It happens. Some tow truck drivers are more thorough than others.

I have seen more car come off wreckers, Than ever off a Rollback,

Stevey

Here in TX I understood that only LE & ambulances were to have red & blue flashing lights. Lately though, I have seen pilot motorcycles with red & blue??

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Manglesphoto wrote:

I have seen more car come off wreckers, Than ever off a Rollback,

That happened to a friend. A car came off a tow truck, and banged into his car. The driver hooked up and took off. Minor damage, fortuntely.