You might have heard about tow trucks with red flashing lights, but do you know what they are and why they are necessary? You should know that they are only permitted to use these lights during an emergency situation. These lights are used to move crashed cars to avoid a second accident and may even save lives. Read on to learn about the safety benefits of using these lights. You’ll be surprised by how useful they are when a car crashes.
Amber Lights
The most common use of tow trucks that run Amber lights is to identify a car or truck that is stuck. The yellow/amber light is used to denote an oversized or overweight vehicle and is used in emergency situations. In the United States, however, forward-facing blue lights are only permitted on federally approved emergency vehicles. If you see these lights on a tow truck, it’s important to avoid them.
Blue Lights
Can tow trucks run blue lights? That’s the question on the minds of many people. Hundreds of collisions and injuries occur every year, including two deaths. The fact is, drivers, don’t react the same way to orange flashing lights and blue flashing ones. While this is unfortunate, it’s not entirely unavoidable. Blue lights can also help tow trucks stand out in a crowd.
Magenta Lights
When you see a tow truck, chances are it is carrying a big load. If that’s the case, you should look for a truck with a red, blue, or green light. These are the colors that alert other drivers to stop or move over when a vehicle is overloaded. These lights are regulated by state laws, but some states allow flashing red lights on school buses, for example.
Clearance Lights
Clearance lights for tow trucks are vital safety equipment. They not only provide vital information about the width of the trailer, but they also alert other vehicles to your presence. These lights are generally built into the mirrors of your pickup truck. New models of Chevy Silverado and Ford F150 tow mirrors even have them installed. They provide clear visibility of the trailer and can perform for several hours. For safety reasons, clearance lights must be installed in vehicles with a tow mirror.
Emergency Lights
Emergency lights are blue or red LED lights that announce the presence of a vehicle. Emergency vehicles are allowed to use these lights, as are commercial vehicles. These lights are regulated by state and local agencies and must be visible to other drivers. These lights can also denote the type of service provided, such as towing. Tow trucks are permitted to run these lights, but they must adhere to local and state laws. The following are some of the reasons why.
Sirens
The use of sirens and lights on tow trucks has become commonplace in some countries. Although their use has a variety of practical applications, they are also a source of controversy. The prevailing public belief is that the use of sirens and lights during an emergency will save time. Time is an important commodity in a medical emergency, and medical professionals teach the public that “time is muscle/brain”.
The use of lights and sirens on tow trucks is not without its controversy, but it is an essential part of safety and efficiency.
New York State Law
Tow trucks are allowed to run red lights in New York when they are on a road, but the driver must follow the state’s laws. The law says that the driver must yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle. The driver must stop at the right-hand edge of the roadway, or the curb if the roadway has more than three lanes. The driver must stop and remain until the emergency vehicle passes by.
The emergency vehicle must be flashing red light and emit an audible warning signal.