Blue Lights on Emergency Vehicles

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Thu 11 May 2006 14:20
Blue Lights on Emergency Vehicles - Duchess
Why are they blue?
Why not a different colour?
Why are they blue throughout the world?

It's not being a good day at work - if I can solve this one, it will make a small part of my life better!

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Thu 11 May 2006 14:35
Blue Lights on Emergency Vehicles - Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}
In 1861 blue lamps were introduced outside police stations.
Not sure why - but extrapolate from there.London Police force presumably became the worldwide model?
--
I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Thu 11 May 2006 15:08
Blue Lights on Emergency Vehicles - LHM
I guess they are blue (a colour not used in any other road or sign lighting) to instantly stick out like a sore thumb in normal traffic. I'd say it works, too!

Just for once, other countries have thought the same, too.
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Thu 11 May 2006 15:27
Blue Lights on Emergency Vehicles - Galaxy
How many blue lights do you see on cars and other vehicles today that aren't police vehicles?

They seem to have become a car fashion accessory!

The warning light on a doctor on call's car is green.
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Thu 11 May 2006 15:38
Blue Lights on Emergency Vehicles - Gromit {P}
Not all emergency services worldwide use blue lights: US fire services (and airfield fire crews) use red and white. As do fire and ambulance vehicles in Middle Eastern countries - presumably because they're following US practice.

I always assumed that police cars had blue beacons following the precedent set by blue lanterns outside police stations, and I'm fairly certain that police cars had beacon lights before fire engines or ambulances did.
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Thu 11 May 2006 15:42
Blue Lights on Emergency Vehicles - LHM
Ah yes, the blue LED brigade - they do indeed stick out like sore thumbs!

In my younger days, red seemed to be the preferred colour for extraneous lights - often surmounting a rear axle casing painted in red oxide primer (mmmm - looked lovely on a MkII Cortina!).
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Thu 11 May 2006 20:15
Blue Lights on Emergency Vehicles - none
Interesting question. I read a while back that red traffic lights were chosen as the stop colour as the longer wavelength travelled better through mist or fog. Blue waves would be shorter and disrupted more easily. Is there a scientific answer to Duchess's question, and are red lights really more visible in poor visibility ?
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Thu 11 May 2006 20:31
Blue Lights on Emergency Vehicles - Robin Reliant
Is there a scientific answer to Duchess's question,
and are red lights really more visible in poor visibility ?

>>

Well, after spending many hours wandering around Soho on misty nights, I can...
No, sorry, lets forget that.
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Thu 11 May 2006 20:38
Blue Lights on Emergency Vehicles - none
I've been there as well Tom, wandered into a short wavelength zone.
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Thu 11 May 2006 21:25
Blue Lights on Emergency Vehicles - sb01372
Might be somethingo do with it being a colour that can be seen even if you are colour blind ?
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Thu 11 May 2006 23:08
Blue Lights on Emergency Vehicles - AlastairW
I think we are over thinking this. Traffic lights etc where made red because (at the time) this was the easiest colour to make other than black - think early football strips, which were all black, white or red.
I suspect blue was chosen because it was the next easiest colour to make, and stood out from the others.
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