The Types and Purposes of Emergency Vehicle Warning Lights

Not only are there different types of emergency lights, but modern lights appear much different than the classic light bars we are all used to seeing in movies. This article will explore some of the different types of lights, helping you understand their purpose, their appearance, and how they can improve your emergency service vehicles the moment they are installed.

1. Grill Lights
Emergency vehicle warning lights mounted in the grill of a car or truck are the smallest and, usually, the easiest to install of all emergency light types. These small arrays of LED bulbs clip or screw into the grill of your vehicle and provide front-facing strobes of a chosen color or colors. While grill warning lights are not intended to be used all by themselves, they can help an emergency vehicle be more visible to the drivers of smaller vehicles, such as motorcycles, and pedestrians.

No doubt you’ve had the experience of driving late at night in your personal car and had a large truck behind you shining its headlights directly into your rearview mirror. This experience is one nearly all drivers have had, simply as a result of varied vehicle sizes. Grill lights take these differences and use them beneficially, allowing drivers to easily be warned of an emergency vehicle approaching from behind.

2. Dash, Windshield, and Rear Window Lights
Dash, windshield, and rear window lights all serve more or less the same purpose: provide eye-level warning light that does not impede the driver’s ability to see out the front and back windows. Windshield and dash lights are both designed to sit at specific angles to the windshield, preventing reflection while still allowing for people outside the vehicle to be warned of its approach. Rear window lights in general function very similarly; however, models of rear window lights for cars with vertical rear windows also exist that simply sit flat with the window instead of at an angle.

These three types of emergency vehicle warning lights are most frequently seen in undercover vehicles since their positioning allows them to be discreet when not actively flashing.

3. Top-Mounted Light Bars
Light bars are the most iconic and important of emergency vehicle warning light types. Mounted to the top of an emergency vehicle, a good light bar provides 360-degree visibility and multiple flash patterns. While older models were quite large, new models are slim and aerodynamic, allowing for efficient lighting without overly bulky enclosures for bulbs.

Top-mounted light bars are also the most complex models of emergency light, with many models allowing programming of multiple colors, patterns, and even visibility angles. When shopping for this type of warning light, be sure to research the programmability deeply so that you can choose a model that best fits the needs of your department.

Now that you have a basic understanding of each type of warning light, all that is left is to choose the types appropriate for your needs and place an order. When you are ready to order your new, modern lights, be sure to buy from the best. Our team of emergency lighting professionals are ready to help you get the models that will protect your team and your community best. Visit us today at www.ultrabrightlightz.com and see the cutting edge models we have to offer.