What's with the emergency lighting etc...

[W4KLR]

What is with all of the emergency lighting and sirens people are putting in their vehicles. Are there this many volunteer firefighters, or is it one of the perks to having a ticket? I don't get it. Does being part of ARES or RACES allow for this kind of response equipment in your vehicle?

Or are there just many people doing illegal modifications?

Been browsing this site for a few months now and noticed this, I have a knack for Whelen stuff.

[Bob]

While there are a lot of hams on this board, a huge number of people on this board are either involved in Public Safety on a paid or volunteer basis, or are involved in businesses that outfit vehicles for public safety agencies. Many members fall into two or all three categories.

In addition to being a ham, I am a former firefighter, and a currently practing EMT (and Communications Officer) with a busy volunteer ambulance squad. Along with my father, I own a business that sells, installs, and repairs emergency warning and communications equipment. Our customer base includes two local police departments and numerous fire and EMS agencies across New York State.

That said, every install is a unique adventure. Some are more challenging than others, and some require a great deal of creativity and attention to detail. I find it cool when someone can install 3 W9 radios in a Dodge Neon and keep the factory look.

[kg4ere]

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[Station House Products]

FF/EMT here. I also own a business that sells and services lighting, radios, sirens, etc.

[Pj]

If you want lively chat about this topic, you may want to check out some of the threads over at http://www.hamsexy.com

[gws]

Take a look around, Strobes are being put on EVERYTHING. Lawn care companies have stobes on there vehicles that might be parked near the street, anything city, county, state or federal has strobes and often lights.
Heck take a look at Police vehicles, Just how many light can you put on one vehicle!!!! Light bar on the top, light bar on the back deck, light bar in the trunk, strobes everywhere else.

[HowD]

Strobes are being put on EVERYTHING

They have to out-strobe the guy down the road so you can see them...Philly PD, years ago, when they first got the Federal lightbars, got complaints about the white strobes blinding oncoming motorists...

[jedi_saber]

white strobes blinding oncoming motorists...

I love clear strobes exactly for that purpose... If it is blinding you, pull over and stop!

[kg6bki]

I prefer when Providing assistance to a motorist or I have to pull my car off to the side of the road. People...Ie motorists are more likely to slow down if you have some led's and strobes on the car. Where I am in California and the laws here are so stupid the PD will pull you over for anyting....lol...stupid california. But I still have my Amber Led's in my honda accord and I am going to putt Amber 3's in the front grill....hidden of course...


B

[thebigphish]

ambers in the front? i don't see the point...only time the front of my truck is lit up is to respond to a call. If i ever have to pull over, it's gonna be on MY side of the road, and the 4ways do a good enough job to the front. The blinkenlighten on the back just tell people where the ass end is, not blind them. They get dazzled, and rear end someone...who's lights caused what problem? I don't think i need warning power to the front, because if i'm on my side of the road, the end of the car i'm more worried about is the end i cant' see all the time.

[bellersley]

Well, it'd be my opinion that the only reason you'd need lights to the front is if your intent is to move traffic and/or pull someone over. I can understand lights to the rear (and sides) if you're stopped on the side of a road or what not. I can't think of too many times you'd pull over facing traffic so you need front lights.

[HowD]

That was the complaint...the cars with the strobes were stopped...the oncoming traffic was getting blinded by the overhead strobes. They can be turned on and off separately from the blue and reds.

The sound of the strobes is neat, though...just like the old days with a camera.

[KitN1MCC]

Well i am Member of Middletown Emergency Managment. We Get Very Little Money From the city so some times i have to use my trucks for moving equipment/onscene.

Also i own a Small Business Doing Non-Emergency Vehicles

Plows/Tow Trucks/Service trucks

Plus a few of my Customers i also act as road Servcie/Fleet Repair.

sometimes you have to park against traffic and you need front Protection for

for jump starting and other things like that

[kg6bki]

Chances of me using the front ones are slim to none. I mostly use my rear window ones more. They are ok though. Going to put some strobes in the front headlights when I recover from my surgery here....onlya few more days and then I get the stitches out. Then maybe I can get outside...


B

[gws]

I can't think of too many times you'd pull over facing traffic so you need front lights.

Drive down a country road one evening and you will why forward lights are good. With the road just wide enough for a couple of cars to pass and most people driving in the middle of the road. LIGHTS fore and aft are needed.

[Pj]

Amber to the front is slowly gaining ground for emergency vehicle. In Los Angles (California where else?!?) LAFD has a few ambulances with amber center section rotators with red/amber intersection lights. Aside from clear/white lights, amber is the next best thing reguardless of atmospheric conditions and time of day.

If you talk to Chuck (SHP), a lot of his guys run blue/amber to the front for use on the highway. According to him, people pay more attention to the amber than the blue.

Some emegerncy vehicles are run amber on a switch to the front so if they are parked against the flow of traffic, they can use it to suppliment the warning lights and shut off any white lights.

Its still a regional thing.

This was taken at the Hollywood station a few years ago:

[jedi_saber]

I don't know about you guys, but everytime I see amber on an emergency vehicle that is all lit up from afar, I assume it is the rear of it. Seeing white, I figure it is coming at me. I think it would be great to retain a standard like that.

Then of course there are places like Houston, where HPD's huge fleet's Whelen 8 strobe lightbars look the same front and rear (minus Takedown's)... red, amber, white, blue.... Kinda difficult to tell if it is coming or going. But then again, when you see any lights flashing at you, you are supposed to slow down and pay attention anyway - however all of us in LE/public safety know that turning on lights and sirens bring out the retards in some people on our roads.

[EPC_1111]

Chances of me using the front ones are slim to none. I mostly use my rear window ones more. They are ok though. Going to put some strobes in the front headlights when I recover from my surgery here....onlya few more days and then I get the stitches out. Then maybe I can get outside...
B

Go with wig wags, their warning power is far more effective than hide aways in the headlights. Plus strobeheads are drowned out by the low beams.

[thebigphish]

Well, it'd be my opinion that the only reason you'd need lights to the front is if your intent is to move traffic and/or pull someone over. I can understand lights to the rear (and sides) if you're stopped on the side of a road or what not. I can't think of too many times you'd pull over facing traffic so you need front lights.

well, the few lights i have to the front are halogen & they are strictly "courtesy" lights according to local legislature. We're EMS folk, no pulling over of anyone here!

if i was doing stuff where i'd be pulling people over, i would be a cop....in a cop car.