The Humble Light Bar Is The Most Effective Safety Item On A Vehicle.

Distracted and apathetic road users speeding to get to where they want to be because they got up late are dangerous. Very poor light, driving rain and even bright sunlight can be dangerous. Take a first responder in a vehicle rushing to a priority call. Both of those things are increased tenfold as potential life threatening situations. Every part of a first responder's job is dangerous. Not only are they dealing with the unknown every day but they have to respond at speed to calls and get to their destination in one piece. Speeding along a crowded highway trying to clear a path through traffic with a flashing light bar and blaring siren is not for those of a nervous disposition.

The light bar and siren can be very effective in the warning systems of an emergency vehicle, we see the lights and hear the sirens. What both of these do is act as advance warning of a vehicles approach or that there is some kind of incident up ahead we need to be aware of. A light bar is used to give us the 'heads up' that there is a vehicle that needs to pass us or that something has happened in the near vicinity. We may think that the flashing lights and blaring siren are overkill but they most certainly aren't.

There are many deaths at roadside incidents but not just of those involved in the accidents but of first response personnel. The personnel have to work in cramped conditions often in the path of incoming traffic and they not only need their wits about them but they need protection. Protection in the form of a light bar on a vehicle is crucial. The lightbar slowly flashing can show that vehicles are stationary at the side of the road and that we need to approach with care. We need to pass incidents slowly and carefully yet many drivers take the opportunity to do the exact opposite.

You may or may not have heard of the 'move over' law. In truth you really need to check out if your state has one. This law has been brought in over a number of years and most states now have some form of a law. Each state will be different but the general gist of the law is to protect first responders at roadside from injury and death. Most 'move over' laws will advise you to move where appropriate to an adjacent lane and drop your speed so you can pass an incident safely without hitting anyone working on the roadside. If you can't move to an adjacent lane safely then at the very least the advice would be to drop your speed to well below that posted for the section of road or highway you are on.

Don't be tempted to ignore any 'move over' law or feign ignorance as this will land you with a hefty fine and points on your license in most states. The law is a direct response to the high number of personnel killed at roadside accidents/incidents yearly. The light bar units on vehicles at the scene of an accident can help keep personnel safe as they will be more visible at night and in poor conditions. However effective the light bar is it would seem it just isnt enough and so law has to be passed to compensate.