Lights that are too bright?

[Hill Farmer]

The newer lights are great for daytime visibility, but I agree they can cause problems at night. They do make a dimmer switch that will cut the output in half when switched on. Simple solution, and it helps.
Rectal cranial inversion issues of many drivers is a much harder row to hoe.

 

[SPYDERLK]

You don,t have to stop in the middle of the road JUST SLOW DOWN and move over.

Imagine a 2 lane road - Flashing lites block one lane [yours] but you think they are on the shoulder because you are blinded. You slow to go by and stay to the left. ... "See" the problem?

 

[oosik]

Spyderlk,
You are describing 95% of the situations I've run into. Unless I can see that the way is clear BEYOND this incident OR a second person is actively directing traffic - I will most likely come to a stop prior to navigating around the incident. I take this approach either day or night.

The main reason this situation even presents itself - our county (secondary) roads have little or no shoulder for anything to park/stop on. It is safe to assume any incident will be completely blocking one lane or the other. Some times both.

 

[PILOON]

Here in Quebec they passed a 'pullover law' for emergency vehicles.
You must change lanes to protect the LEO's and that subject to fines and demerit points.

 

[4570Man]

I am young and can see fine at night, and these things are still blinding at night.

 

[boggen]

mounted on a car. that is nearly level with many trucks. i mean there shinning directly into my eyes. if the lights were mounted up much higher and shined down. ya ok. but the stinking lights. are so bright and of course rotating. so no matter were you looking your eyes get nailed by the light. even once your past the lights. your side mirrors and center mirror. just get flooded out by the light.

oh it it daylight. lets make lights bright enough to see during daylight. ok. no biggy.. ok now it is night time. oh wait we can't see stuff around vehicle 100 foot away without whipping out a flash light, lets make the lights even brighter!

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i have been caught twice. not noticing an emergency vehicle behind me, wanting to get past me. until i heard the siren right up on me. the lights never effected me. (rear view mirror was a no go (hauling something blocking center review mirror). i simply never new they were there, lights never glared into my side mirrors. until the sirens hit me. 1 during mid of day, another during night time.

the times i have had emergency vehicles go past me at night and i see them. is when i catch glare in my side view mirrors. normally them turning a corner on to road i am on. or they swerved over center line.

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coming up on emergency vehicles always has been police, *shakes head UGHS* my eyes hurt after getting past them. from simple eye strain. i would imagine some may get a migraine.

it is kinda funny, to see police wear SUNGLASSES at night. i would imagine it is the only way they can see due to there own lights! or to be a troll. there all on drugs and there hiding there bloodshot eyes.

 

[WM75Guy]

Fire apparatus usually follow the NFPA standard on emergency lighting. Ambulances use the federal KKK-1822 specifications as a minimum. Law enforcement use the more is better or more than the other guy principle. Everyone has gone to LED lights as they don't put wear and tear on the vehicle electrical system. Unfortunately some have gone overboard on the number of lights as they can without taxing the electrical system.

The LED lights used by emergency vehicles don't have dimmers. Some of the older strobe lights could be dimmed at night. The incandescents did not need dimming as they were not that bright to begin with, especially in daytime.

 

[westcliffe01]

The companies that make the strobe systems should have them able to run at 2 different power levels. A reduced power level for ordinary weather and a more powerful level for fog or snow. Running any kinds of lights at blinding levels does not make anyone safer.

 

[jmc]

Even a line of those reflective construction barrels are bad when it's wet out, especially on a curve.

I think the police went overboard about being noticed and forgot about disabling drivers. Unintended consequences, as another poster put it. Hope some LEO members of TBN will comment.

 

[bdog]

I agree 100%. I actually got into an argument with a cop last year over this. A local mega church hires off duty cops to direct traffic because their parking lot is across a busy four lane road from their building. One Wednesday night as church was letting out this cop had has car with all the lights on parked in the median and was standing in front of it directing traffic. We knew what was there and slowed to 10-15 mph and I dang near hit the cop because I couldn't see him because I was blinded by the lights. I stopped and rolled down my window and told him he was impossible to see because the lights and I was obviously going slow but I couldn't see him. He got an attitude about don't tell me how to do my job and I told him I am not I just don't want to see you get hurt and he said to mind my own business and I said well I won't feel feel sorry for you if I see on the news you got run over and drove off.