Active Now

Malizz
Danilo_G
.
Discussion » Questions » Random Knowledge » Why were red and blue lights chosen to denote emergency and police vehicles?

Why were red and blue lights chosen to denote emergency and police vehicles?

Posted - November 8, 2017

Responses


  • 44173
    Easily visible? And orange lights were already taken by work and tow trucks.
      November 8, 2017 12:46 PM MST
    1

  • 32527
    Flashing to get attention.
    Red because is standard for stop or warning but can get lost among the other lights in heavy traffic.  
    Blue is traditionally police color so they added the flashing blue to get attention. 
      November 8, 2017 12:54 PM MST
    1

  • 6988
    They use blue flashing lights on snowplows on Canadian highways.
      November 8, 2017 12:58 PM MST
    1

  • 7280
    Lots of information here: https://www.quora.com/Why-are-police-lights-red-and-or-blue 
      November 8, 2017 2:17 PM MST
    1

  • 2217
    And green for doctors and ambulances. 
      November 8, 2017 2:29 PM MST
    0

  • 10026
    They are?  I haven't noticed that. 
      November 8, 2017 2:48 PM MST
    0

  • 6023

    Where is that?

    In the US ... doctors don't get emergency lights, and ambulances have the same colors as police/fire.
    The only ambulances I've seen from Europe and Asia (on news), have blue lights.

    This post was edited by Walt O'Reagun at November 8, 2017 3:41 PM MST
      November 8, 2017 3:41 PM MST
    0

  • 10026
    I'm taking a shot in the dark here, but I'm thinking we all associate RED!!  With WARNING!  Look Out!  Our blood is red and when you see it that means danger!  Something may hurt you or some one is hurt STOP and help!  
    I think BLUE because blue is a color we know and are comfortable with.  It doesn't distract from the hue of red.  I'm not sure if this reads what I am trying to express.
    Blue, most of us know is the color of the water and the sky.  It is a color we can relate to and doesn't interfere with the red, warning sign.  If we put any other color like orange, yellow, or pink next to red, in the night time they wouldn't make the red stand out.

    This is all said with the approach that many of us are not color blind.  I 'm not sure what the red and blue lights look like in shades of grey.  Maybe that has something to do with it, too?! This post was edited by Merlin at November 8, 2017 3:18 PM MST
      November 8, 2017 2:45 PM MST
    1

  • 2327
    Because it's somehow more visually effective than other colors. Imagine if it were black and brown. 
      November 8, 2017 3:42 PM MST
    0

  • 22891
    it might be cause people can see them better
      November 8, 2017 3:56 PM MST
    0

  • They are opposite ends of the spectrum so they naturally clash.
      November 8, 2017 5:42 PM MST
    0

  • 5835
    So you could see them coming.
      November 8, 2017 7:35 PM MST
    0