Whys does Emergency serives have blue coloured lights?

Keyser SÃ¶ze

It's one of the most visible lights off the array of lights. Also, red is more visible in certain conditions; hence the red/blue combo.

UCANTCME

One study found that for flashing lights, red was more easily perceived in daylight, and blue at night.

Furthermore, red has advantages in haze and fog, while blue stands out against traffic at night.

spike

It was during the early 1960s in the UK that the blue lights came in. Previously it had all been just ringing bells. They got difficult to hear with more traffic and better insulated cars, so blue flashing lights then two tone horns to better attract attention to the approaching vehicle.

Ian M

It was desighed to tell you they need to get through fast. It has to be a obvious color being used. I think it was in the 1930's.

linda c

so they stand out against any background ie.roads woodland
townhouses etc.

Stan Dup

As an ex-ambulanceman I can tell you that red and blue are the official colour for the emergency services. Green is used by doctors.

ding.duck

G'day!

Emergency services (Police, Ambulance and Fire) here in Australia currently use a mixture of red and blue flashing / strobe lights for emergency services work. Originally, the blue was chosen for the ability to be seen through fog and in periods of low visibility. That is why in the early days, police vehicles in South Australia were painted a powder blue colour.

During the 1990's the agencies went to the two colour scheme to be more visible when operating in Priority 1 conditions. (Running with their emergency lights on.)

It is interesting to note here that the transport enforcement agencies of Australia use Mangenta coloured roof lights. They changed to this colour in 1991. Prior to this, they were using amber rotating beacons.

I hope that this information is of some help to you.

Ding.

peltonwheeler

Medical services also use green

taxed till i die,

So we all know they are emergency vehicles.

Old Fart

I seem to remember them coming in in the sixties. If you think about it the basic colours were already being used except blue for non emergency use.

Dan

because there is already white, red and yellow lights on the road and I suppose blus lights stand out from the rest

Annie May

i dunno. cos its preety :D

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