Best emergency light?

[trytobeatfire]

Can anyone tell me what is the best emergency light for my personal vehicle?

[SCOOBY14B]

No lights at all.

[lvwrench]

Assuming that you are on a volunteer department and responding then I would suggest either the Whelen hidden strobes in the front and rear lights or a strobe bar. If you can afford it then go with LEDS.

[dmleblanc]

Oh, God.....here we go again.....

[firenresq77]

DING DING DING!!!! Round 8,456,159,123,378,189

PS...... If you really want to talk about Lights on POVs, try a search......

[Weruj1]

Another who has no idea what he has done ............where does it stop ?

[nmfire]

Prepare the forum for a light thread! Fasten all seatbelts, seal all entrances and exits, close all shops in the mall, cancel the three ring circus, secure all animals in the zoo!

[RLFD14]

Oh man.... but go easy on him, you guys. We've all posted something without searching before, we were all newbies once.... and you never can tell when someone posts this topic in a sincere manner and is not trying to be a whacker.

As my wife always tells my kids... "Assume a positive intention".

trytobeatfire, please tell us what type of department you are on, how many calls the department handles annually, how many people are on the department, your level of training, your years of experience, and possibly even what kind of POV you drive, and we will have a much better handle on how to answer your question.

The rest of you guys, easy now! LOL....

[EngCo29]

*cough*search*cough*

[Sleuth]

NMfire, I have three words for you:

SPACEBALLS, THE MOVIE


Yes, I drive at ludicrous speed!

[BVFD1983]

Can anyone tell me what is the best emergency light for my personal vehicle?

It is a courtesy light, not an emergency light.

That said, blue lights are worthless.

[Fire304]

Actually they are not lights at all, they are dark suckers.

[doughesson]

"You do that!I'm gonna walk around here in a circle!"

Prepare the forum for a light thread! Fasten all seatbelts, seal all entrances and exits, close all shops in the mall, cancel the three ring circus, secure all animals in the zoo!

[Sleuth]

Another "History of the World, Part I" Fan here!


"And you! Run, with Mucus"

[LeuitEFDems]

"You do that!I'm gonna walk around here in a circle!"

"They've gone Plaid Sir!"

[Sleuth]

I interrupt this review of Mel Brooks Movies to return to the original thread:

Without lots of EVOC training, and a mature understanding of what liability concerns you face, the best plan is :

NO LIGHTS, DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT, and accept the fact that you may miss some calls.

I have 27 years driving unmarked law enforcement cars (which had red lights & siren concealed), and have taught EVOC. When my pager tones go off, I drive at the speed limit, without any emergency lights. Why? Because, with full liability insurance from my (former) agency, we found that you can acutually go faster without lights & siren.

With lights (and siren), people:
A) stop in the travel lane,
B) slow down in the travel lane,
C) pull to the right,
D) pull to the left(?),
E) Slam on the brakes and put their car/truck sideways across the road
F) Wreck right in front of you, creating more work and danger for everyone.
(Over the years, I had folks do every one of these things in front of me!)

Without the backing (Lawyers, deep pockets, lots of money) of a large agency, you stand to lose your job, your home, and your freedom. All this, just to get to the station?

No thanks, I'll miss some calls before I risk killing someone to get on the truck.

Now, Back to Mel Brooks, "..For we have the power of mighty joint!"

[Fire304]

we found that you can acutually go faster without lights & siren.

In addition to your list, when you've got a light on everyone knows you're a firefighter (or cop as the case may be). W/O the light you're just another a-hole driving too fast. Enough people see you with the light they'll complain and with a pretty rough description of your POV it'll come back to you, where as w/o the light they need a tag#.



"Whats the matter Col. Sanders? Chicken?"

[Adam07003]

I interrupt this review of Mel Brooks Movies to return to the original thread:

Without lots of EVOC training, and a mature understanding of what liability concerns you face, the best plan is :

NO LIGHTS, DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT, and accept the fact that you may miss some calls.

I have 27 years driving unmarked law enforcement cars (which had red lights & siren concealed), and have taught EVOC. When my pager tones go off, I drive at the speed limit, without any emergency lights. Why? Because, with full liability insurance from my (former) agency, we found that you can acutually go faster without lights & siren.

With lights (and siren), people:
A) stop in the travel lane,
B) slow down in the travel lane,
C) pull to the right,
D) pull to the left(?),
E) Slam on the brakes and put their car/truck sideways across the road
F) Wreck right in front of you, creating more work and danger for everyone.
(Over the years, I had folks do every one of these things in front of me!)

Without the backing (Lawyers, deep pockets, lots of money) of a large agency, you stand to lose your job, your home, and your freedom. All this, just to get to the station?

No thanks, I'll miss some calls before I risk killing someone to get on the truck.

Now, Back to Mel Brooks, "..For we have the power of mighty joint!"

As much as I am a fan of lights/sirens (i just like them) I do agree with you 100% about no lights/sirens will get you there JUST as fast. Especially on NJ's open parkways/highways. I love the sound of a siren and the flashing lights, it gets the adrenilin pumping. I used to love driving in NYC with my lights/sirens going, BUT, PEOPLE ARE IDIOTS. They have NO IDEA how to drive with emergency vehicles ont he road. Its not hard folks. PULL TO THE RIGHT or in nyc CLEAR THE CENTER LANE. Yet people panic and cause more of a problem then you had before.

So yeah i agree with ya, despite how i love lights.

ut to answer the orig poster, check out www.strobesnmore.com i get my stuff there. A single/dual LED mounted dash light will do good. I personally own the Predator II which is a nice light. I'm a whelen fan but the predator is a good product. It feels sturdy and installed very easily. Suction cupped to my window, has never fallen off since I put it in earlier this year.

[firemedic8107]

So if no lights get you there faster, all firetrucks and ambulances should not be able to activate their red lights unless they are in park?

While going down the road they should not be able to use their red lights?

Also, should police put a police in place to only use their lights when blocking traffic, or trying to pull someone over?

We have a very good public advisement program that helps educate people on what to do when approached by an emergency vehicle. We have seen a better response to people approached by an emergency vehicle.

And also, in Texas at least, any vehicle utilizing red,blue, green, purple, whatever since state law doesn't determine light color, that is responding to a medical call or fire/fire alarm, or patrol car in the course of their duties are considered emergency vehicles and are afforded all rights and privileges of same.

The also have the same burden to exercise due care and regard to public safety and can be held accountable for any accidents that arise as a result of their behavior.

[Sleuth]

Firemedic, there is a vast diference between driving an unmarked law enforcement car, and a BRT (Big Red Truck). In my unmarked car, I could weave through traffic, something unlikely to be done in a BRT, lights or no lights. And, if you look, LEO's frequently don't turn on their lights until they are in position to pull someone over.