Ask Trooper Steve: Lights on construction trucks

Trooper Steve answers viewer questions.

[beakfish]

Usually its totally fine if the vehicle is stationery. Ive got them on my truck, never been hastled once. Had a tropper ask me to turn them on once and he said they were bright. Lol i think he just wanted to make sure i wasn't running red and blue.

[IluvKonig]

Thank you for the tip. Sometimes, my old friend, used to be a fire and rescue official, would forget his lights bars were on. He would look like a Town Square on wheels.

[braddenning]

First in most states you need aa permit to have active warning lamps and each permit is for a different colors. Amber or orange is utility trucks construction zones etc. If your on the emergency first aid squad or civil defense you can get a blue lamp permit, Red is mostly police or fire, but you can get aa Red lamp permit if your job requires it, However There have been several studies on the effectiveness of LEDs strobes and the different colors. You see these memorials on the side of highways were Police Officers have been hit when they are pulled over with all those lights' flashing !!?? Drivers become confused and the lights mess with your depth perception and distract you from vehicles around you, These LED strobes on police car are beyond necessary and obviously attract danger . HOW? ! I read an article several years ago about this subject. Why do LEs get hit with all the lights on? White lamps are totally misleading and confuse you, they have no positive use as far as a warning lamp. They are Headlamps . Red lamps are intimidating and can startle a motorist, Even if the Police are directly behind you, you focus on the rear flashing lamps not the road ahead. Blue lamps are the least effective as far as the distance they can illuminate but the most calming effect, Meaning that if the police car is coming up on you with all blue warning lamps your not as distracted or startled. Yellow / Orange is the most effective warning lamp Like construction zones or police cars, Yellow is noticeable at a farther distance then the other colors compared to equal lamps, they are clear, not blinding and the best warning color for warning on coming traffic. Adam-12 type warning lamps as simple as they are were cheap and effective. Two Steady Bright Red front Sealed beams and orange wig-wag rear lamps.

[coziii.]

Amber fog lights or driving lights are fine

[cameronhuffstetler]

Our trucks at my work have little alert systems that ring when the drive is activated in the vehicle while the warning lights are on.