Study Identifies Top Lighting Practices for Roadside Vehicles

A new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety highlights the most effective lighting configurations for improving the visibility of roadside assistance vehicles, especially at night.

After reviewing 30 academic studies and analyzing regulations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, researchers found that using two to four warning lights is ideal. More than four can increase glare and reduce effectiveness. Lights mounted above the driver’s eye level were easier for approaching motorists to spot.

Amber and green lights stood out as the most visible from a distance but also produced more glare. Amber, in particular, remains the color most associated with roadside assistance vehicles.

Flash rate and pattern matter too. A faster flash rate—between 1 to 4 hertz—is recommended, and alternating left/right patterns are more easily detected than simultaneous flashes.

The study also found wide variation in state laws regarding warning lights and calls for more research into the impact of different light shapes and sizes on driver recognition and safety. Source: https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/