BLUE LIGHTS-CALIFORNIA REPORTS

THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL RECENTLY CONDUCTED A STUDY TO DETERMINE WHAT COLOR AND TYPE OF LIGHT FOR PATROL CARS ARE THE MOST VISIBLE UNDER VARIOUS LIGHTING CONDITIONS, AND TO DETERMINE WHICH LIGHT WOULD HAVE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON TRAFFIC, SINCE THE BASIC TASK OF THE LIGHT IS TO ALERT DRIVERS TO POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. THE TYPICAL RED LIGHT HAS BEEN CRITIZED BECAUSE APPROXIMATELY TWO THIRDS OF THE POPULATION PERCEIVES RED OBJECTS AS BEING FARTHER AWAY THAN THEY ACTUALLY ARE, A PORTION OF THE PUBLIC IS RED-GREEN COLOR BLIND, AND AT LOW LEVELS OF ILLUMINATION, REACTION IS SLOWER TO A RED LIGHT. BLUE, RED, AND AMBER LIGHTS WERE TESTED IN SEALED, REVOLVING, AND STROBE TYPES. THEY WERE TRIED IN VARIOUS COMBINATIONS, ON VARIED ROAD SETTINGS, UNDER NIGHT AND DAY CONDITIONS, AND FROM ALL ANGLES. THE COMBINATION OF BLUE AND RED STROBE LIGHTS PROVIDED THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF BOTH RED AND BLUE AND PROVED TO HAVE THE MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY OF ANY TESTED.

• Authors:
  • Pudinski, W
• Publication Date: 1973-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 3 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: 00222334
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 20 1974 12:00AM