I've noticed that every other foreign country that I have seen on here only uses blue lights on the police cars (with the exception of the two red flashers on the rear of the London MET police car lightbars). Why is it that America uses a pretty even distribution of red and blue while most of the other foreign countries just use blue?

I feel that most departments are slowly shifting to all blue. Eventually I believe that most will have made the switch.

I prefer the distinction of rescue/medics using red and police using blue.

Our country has Police using red, white and green... if anything this kinda only happens in Europe.

I feel that most departments are slowly shifting to all blue. Eventually I believe that most will have made the switch.

I prefer the distinction of rescue/medics using red and police using blue.

It seems that most areas down south have police using all blue lights. In New Jersey every 911 responder uses red and blue. EMS uses mostly red, but some blue and where I am, I don't think I've ever seen blue lights being used for medics, just red/white. However, volunteer responders (who respond from home to station) for EMS and the Fire Department are only allowed to use blue, yellow, and/or white flashing lights. Reds are strictly prohibited unless you are higher ranking within your squad or department like captain or assistant captain. And I believe only captain and assistant captain are allowed to use a siren in their personal vehicle as well if they elect to.

Our country has Police using red, white and green... if anything this kinda only happens in Europe.

which country? (if you don't mind me asking )

My country (Sweden) has White and Blue lights due to this being more visible than other types of light (according to some study). Our cars are also marked with high-visibilty stripes, something that most departments in other countries seems to lack (looking at you primarily America) :P

My country (Sweden) has White and Blue lights due to this being more visible than other types of light (according to some study). Our cars are also marked with high-visibilty stripes, something that most departments in other countries seems to lack (looking at you primarily America) :P

It's actually pretty interesting you say that, blue has a shorter wavelength then red, making red "more visible" than blue when it comes to light ;)

My country (Sweden) has White and Blue lights due to this being more visible than other types of light (according to some study). Our cars are also marked with high-visibilty stripes, something that most departments in other countries seems to lack (looking at you primarily America) :P

Some areas in America police use stripes, however they are unnecessary and purely for design, in my opinion. Most police cars use lettering and painted on features that are all reflective and highly visible any time during the day/night. I think stripes should only be used for fire trucks and ambulances because they are much bigger vehicles, which is the case most of the time.

Edited July 14, 201510 yr by BROOKLYNBOY2497

Where I'm at the law doesn't allow blue lights to be placed on the drivers side, only the passenger side. The result: most ambulances, fire trucks, and police have red on the driver side and blue on the passenger side. We've also got opticom preemption on almost all signalized intersections (with some exceptions in the city and rural areas), making responding much safer and faster.

While it's true a lot of departments in Europe certainly use blue lights on emergency vehicles, a lot of "foreign" departments from elsewhere do not. In Australia we have red and blue lights for emergency vehicles as does New Zealand, Mexico, Dubai, Singapore, Russia and Vietnam (to name a few).

Japan and Thailand have only red lights, where as Malaysia has only blue.

Well, it's because of the European histoy! In the Second World War the countries had to protect their first responders (no matter if police, fire or ems) against the air airstrikes from the germans. And we had to protect our from the airstrikes from the allied forces. It's because like Brand said. Red has a longer wavelength. As a result it's more visible from a longer distance. From the air! And the other thing is, traffic lights, taillights. ..are red. The traffic is full of red lights. Blue is an outstanding color. Even in the nature blue is something exotic. It's highly visible at night. And with the LED'S highly visible during the daytime. In my opinion it's the best and logical choice for emergency lights. Not only the police has blue lights. Every first responder. NOBODY is allowed to use red. It's against our traffic laws. But you'll see red/ blue or all blue in the east european states like Russina, Poland, Slowakia. ... And in Spain they use amber for EMS (ecxept SAMU, they use amber/red), all blue for police and amber for fire. Sometimes amber/ blue for fire to the rear. But they aren't allowed to use red or blue by law. It's like in New York State. Police isn't allowed to use blue to the front. But some PD do.

Edited July 14, 201510 yr by Schecter004

My country (Sweden) has White and Blue lights due to this being more visible than other types of light (according to some study). Our cars are also marked with high-visibilty stripes, something that most departments in other countries seems to lack (looking at you primarily America) :P

Some areas in America police use stripes, however they are unnecessary and purely for design, in my opinion. Most police cars use lettering and painted on features that are all reflective and highly visible any time during the day/night. I think stripes should only be used for fire trucks and ambulances because they are much bigger vehicles, which is the case most of the time.

In Pennsylvania, police run Red, White & Blue.  EMS & Fire runs Red and White.  

Edit->> Also Blue lights are used for volunteer firefighters and emts.  At this time the blue light is only a courtesy light, meaning no one is obligated to move aside or stop for you.  Also we cannot break any traffic laws such as speeding or running stop signs or lights.

Going back to your comment about the high visibility stripes....sigh.   I cannot express how upsetting it is for people to state that emergency vehicles need high visibility stripping when you have 1,684 led lights that rival that of a lighthouse and even possibly the sun.  Many of our firetrucks are now required to have the chevron stripping covering the back of the vehicle.  Here's my argument to the stripping and you are free to disagree, but if you cannot see a 3 TON firetruck with the 1,684 led lights then the chevron stripping isnt going to do a flippin thing.  If you were stationary and no lights...okay maybe, but today most of the leds blind the living crap out of drivers at night and we cannot see the chevrons anyways so what good are they doing?  

Sorry for the semi-rant :p

Edited July 14, 201510 yr by Cbeck133

It's quite simple. In Germany there are two reasons:

1. When emergency lights were first introduced, all other colors were already used in traffic. Green, Red, White and Amber are all colors you find in regular traffic. They wanted something distinctive.

2. According to research, blue is the most intense color to the brain, the most noticeable. Which is good for emergencies. 

 

EDIT: But this year we've also started using red flashers in the front especially for the purpose of traffic stops (together with the Yelp signal - which is also a first in germany!). 

Edited July 14, 201510 yr by Break

It's quite simple. In Germany there are two reasons:

1. When emergency lights were first introduced, all other colors were already used in traffic. Green, Red, White and Amber are all colors you find in regular traffic. They wanted something distinctive.

2. According to research, blue is the most intense color to the brain, the most noticeable. Which is good for emergencies. 

 

EDIT: But this year we've also started using red flashers in the front especially for the purpose of traffic stops (together with the Yelp signal - which is also a first in germany!). 

Only for traffic stops! The red light is only visible to the front and not meant to be an emergency light. It's called STOP LiGHT. And the yelp is also ONLY for the traffic stop. NOT a real siren!

Only for traffic stops! The red light is only visible to the front and not meant to be an emergency light. It's called STOP LiGHT. And the yelp is also ONLY for the traffic stop. NOT a real siren!

You're basically repeating what I just wrote 

After reading these replies I'm starting to wonder why so many American police departments use red and blue lights. I'm considering the effects of the color red: "Red is a very emotionally intense color. It...increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure." This article also says that the color red "...has very high visibility."

As for blue: "Blue is considered beneficial to the mind and body. It...produces a calming effect. Blue is strongly associated with tranquility and calmness."

http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html

While it's true a lot of departments in Europe certainly use blue lights on emergency vehicles, a lot of "foreign" departments from elsewhere do not. In Australia we have red and blue lights for emergency vehicles as does New Zealand, Mexico, Dubai, Singapore, Russia and Vietnam (to name a few).

Not quite. Here Red and Blue are reserved only for the Road Police department and the Federal Security Service. Police, fire/EMS, other emergency services use only blue. 

I also know that in Ukraine they use red-and-blue for the traffic units plus a single green light in the back.

@iansonwheels Red is indeed a color that is brighter to the brain than blue, and it travels better over distance (you can see it further away) - however blue is the more stimulating color to the brain. I'll see if I can find the source for that.

Not quite. Here Red and Blue are reserved only for the Road Police department and the Federal Security Service. Police, fire/EMS, other emergency services use only blue. 

Ah, I was close enough though. I just Googled it, heh.

Edit->> Also Blue lights are used for volunteer firefighters and emts.  At this time the blue light is only a courtesy light, meaning no one is obligated to move aside or stop for you.  Also we cannot break any traffic laws such as speeding or running stop signs or lights.

Same in New Jersey. I've read that the law states if the vehicle has at least one front-facing red flashing light and an optional audible signal (siren), then people are 'required' to pull over for you. If you have no red lights then people are not 'required' to pull over. I semi-quote 'required' because I think this is a stupid law and people should be required to pull over to blue lights, as they are part of an emergency department and are responding to the emergency vehicle to go to the scene of an emergency.

In my area, I've heard stories of local police pulling people over who do not pull over to blue lights. I don't know how true these stories are... I've also heard stories of police escorting blue-lighters to their station sometimes. Again, don't quote me on this- I don't know how true these stories are, but it seems that blue lights are enforced somewhat strictly where I am.

After reading these replies I'm starting to wonder why so many American police departments use red and blue lights. I'm considering the effects of the color red: "Red is a very emotionally intense color. It...increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure." This article also says that the color red "...has very high visibility."

As for blue: "Blue is considered beneficial to the mind and body. It...produces a calming effect. Blue is strongly associated with tranquility and calmness."

http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html

Yeah, I learned in my psychology class that red is a color that causes excitement, hunger, a spike in emotion and/or desire. That's why a lot of food commercials use the color red so you associate your hunger with their product and you go and buy their product. That can translate to emergency vehicles as well. If you see red flashing lights behind you then you'll feel some adrenaline which will cause you to move over as fast as you can

Same in New Jersey. I've read that the law states if the vehicle has at least one front-facing red flashing light and an optional audible signal (siren), then people are 'required' to pull over for you. If you have no red lights then people are not 'required' to pull over. I semi-quote 'required' because I think this is a stupid law and people should be required to pull over to blue lights, as they are part of an emergency department and are responding to the emergency vehicle to go to the scene of an emergency.

In my area, I've heard stories of local police pulling people over who do not pull over to blue lights. I don't know how true these stories are... I've also heard stories of police escorting blue-lighters to their station sometimes. Again, don't quote me on this- I don't know how true these stories are, but it seems that blue lights are enforced somewhat strictly where I am.

Yeah, I learned in my psychology class that red is a color that causes excitement, hunger, a spike in emotion and/or desire. That's why a lot of food commercials use the color red so you associate your hunger with their product and you go and buy their product. That can translate to emergency vehicles as well. If you see red flashing lights behind you then you'll feel some adrenaline which will cause you to move over as fast as you can

I agree with you, it is a stupid rule to exclude bluelights as an emergency vehicle.  I know there were two major concerns about having volunteers running emergency lights, first many of the volunteers are young inexperienced drivers teenagers.  The likelyhood that they abuse the lights and/or cause a serious accident by blowing through lights was very high.  Also there were concerns that with so many people running bluelights (Volunteer firefighters, Emts and Firepolice) that more people would try and impersonate cops and pull people over.

 

Our bluelight law states that we must have a lightbar that can been seen from 360 degrees and possibly one dash light.  We cannot have any hide-away lights, grill lights or anything that could possible resemble a undercover cop.