BLUE LIGHTS--STATUS OF AND PRESENT USE

THE QUESTION OF RED OR BLUE LIGHTS FOR POLICE CAR USE IS A CONTROVERSIAL ONE. A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL STUDY RECOMMENDED BOTH A RED LIGHT AND A BLUE ONE ON PATROL CARS WITH OVERHEAD LIGHT BARS. FOLLOWING A SIMILAR STUDY THE MARYLAND, STATE POLICE HAVE INSTALLED BARS OF TWO RED AND TWO BLUE LIGHTS ON THEIR PATROL CARS. CONNECTICUT ATTRIBUTES A 20 PERCENT DECREASE IN ACCIDENTS TO THE USE OF BLUE LIGHTS. YET MICHIGAN REJECTED THE USE OF BLUE LIGHTS ON THE BASIS OF A STUDY THAT SHOWED BLUE AND WHITE LIGHTS AT THE INTENSITY USED ON PATROL CARS WOULD BLEACH THE RETINA OF THE EYE CAUSING A LOSS OF VISUAL NIGHT SENSITIVITY. THE ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF BLUE ARE: THE EYE IS MORE SENSITIVE TO BLUE WAVELENGTHS IN PERIPHERAL VISION, BLUE WOULD PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL UNIFORMITY, BECAUSE OF THE WIDESPREAD USE OF RED LIGHTS FOR OTHER THAN POLICE BUSINESS, BLUE WOULD BE A DISTINCTIVE WARNING LIGHT. THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST BLUE ARE: BLUE IS NOT WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS CONVEYING EMERGENCY OR WARNING, IT IS NECESSARY TO USE MORE POWER FOR BLUE LIGHTS, AND THAT NATIONWIDE STANDARDIZATION TO BLUE WOULD COST MORE.

• Authors:
  • Paulson, S L
• Publication Date: 1973-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 2 p.
• Serial:
  • POLICE CHIEF
  • Volume: 15
  • Issue Number: 11

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Light; Lighting columns; Police; Police patrol; Police vehicles; Warning signs; Warning systems
• Old TRIS Terms: Emergency warning devices
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00222333
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 20 1974 12:00AM