How and When Amber LED Lights Are Used

While common emergency vehicle light colors like red, blue and white are the most well-known in public settings, and for good reason, there are a number of other colors that will also sometimes be used. One such color is amber, which can be found on a few different vehicles or in various similar settings, both professional and voluntary in nature.

At LED Equipped, we’re proud to offer the widest selection of LED light bars and related products available, even including materials like off-road LED lights and many others. Amber is just one of numerous light colors we provide depending on your status and needs — what are amber lights ideal for? Which kinds of entities or people will typically use them, and which type should you consider for your needs? Here are some important basics to go over.

Uses and Benefits of Amber LED Lights

There are several common uses and major benefits of amber LED lights, both in emergency settings and others. Here are a few of the most notable:

• Improved vehicle visibility: It’s often important for a vehicle to be seen by others, both for safety reasons and others. In many cases, an amber-colored light bar on the roof of a vehicle can make it significantly more visible to other motorists, dramatically reducing the chances of an accident. This is often especially important in construction zones or other areas where large vehicles are present and visibility may be limited. Amber is an easily identifiable color that stands out well against most backgrounds.
• Signaling: Many amber lights are used as a sign or warning to other motorists, such as in the case of tow trucks, snow plows and other service vehicles. This allows drivers to know to use caution when approaching or passing, which can be vital for safety.
• Security: Amber LED lights may also be used in some security applications, both on vehicles and in other settings. They can be used to indicate the presence of security personnel or to make a property more visible at night, for example.
• Differentiation: Amber helps distinguish between different types of vehicles in some cases. For instance, while police cars and fire trucks will typically use red and blue lights, respectively, amber is often used on vehicles like tow trucks or construction vehicles. This allows drivers to more easily identify the purpose of the approaching vehicle.
• General safety: And like many other colors, amber can also be used for general safety purposes as well. This may include marking the location of a hazard on the road, delineating the boundaries of a work zone or any number of other applications.

Settings for Amber LED Lights

Here are some of the most common settings or situations where amber LED lights will be used:

• Construction: As we noted above, amber lights are often used on construction vehicles like excavators, dump trucks and other large vehicles that are typically found on construction sites. This helps improve safety by making the vehicles more visible to others in the area. These lights may also be used outside vehicles within various construction zones to delineate the boundaries of the work area.
• Towing and recovery: Tow trucks, wreckers and other similar vehicles will often use amber lights to indicate their presence on the road. This helps other motorists know to use caution when approaching or passing. These lights may also be used in storage yards or other locations where towed vehicles are present.
• Security: As we touched on above, amber LED lights may also be used in some security applications. They can help indicate the presence of security personnel or make a property more visible at night, for example.
• Wreckers: Wreckers are another type of vehicle that will often use amber lights. These vehicles are used to remove disabled or damaged vehicles from the road, and the amber lights help indicate their presence to other motorists.
• Volunteer organizations: Amber lights are often used by volunteer organizations like search and rescue teams, fire departments and others. This helps indicate their presence and purpose to others in the area.
• Maintenance vehicles: Another common application for amber lights is on maintenance vehicles. This may include snow plows, street sweepers and other similar vehicles. The lights help indicate the presence of the vehicle and its purpose to other motorists.
• Utility vehicles: Utility trucks and other similar vehicles often use amber lights. These may be used to indicate a hazard on the road, such as a downed power line, or to indicate the presence of the vehicle to other motorists.
• Auto repair trucks: Auto repair trucks are another type of vehicle that will often use amber lights. These help indicate the presence of the vehicle to others on the road, which can be important for safety.

As you can see, there are a number of different settings and situations where amber LED lights may be used. These are just a few of the most common applications for this color of light.

Types of Amber LEDs to Consider

If you’ve determined that amber is the proper color to pursue for your LED light needs, you have a wide range of options available to you when it comes to the actual type you select. Here are several to consider:

• Dash lights: Dash lights are a type of LED light that is typically used in emergency vehicles. They may be used to indicate the presence of the vehicle or to provide warning signals to other motorists.
• Grille lights: Grille lights are another type of LED light that is often used on emergency vehicles. These lights are typically mounted on the front of the vehicle, in the grille area. They may be used to indicate the presence of the vehicle or to provide warning signals to other motorists.
• Strobes: Strobe lights are a type of LED light that emits a flashing light. These are often used in emergency situations to get the attention of others. They may also be used in construction zones or other similar settings.
• Visor lights: Visor lights are another type of LED light that is often used in emergency vehicles. These lights are typically mounted on the roof of the vehicle, near the windshield. They may be used to indicate the presence of the vehicle or to provide warning signals to other motorists.
• Mini and standard light bars: Mini and standard light bars are two types of LED light bars that are often used in emergency vehicles. These light bars may be used to indicate the presence of the vehicle or to provide warning signals to other motorists.
• Non-vehicle lights: Especially for settings like construction, there are a number of different non-vehicle lights that use amber LEDs. These may be used to indicate a hazard or to provide warning signals to others in the area.

As you can see, there are a variety of different types of amber LED lights available on the market.

Finding the Ideal Amber LEDs

Here are some themes to consider when choosing between the above amber LED light types:

• Vehicle or setting purpose: First and foremost, you’ll want to consider the purpose of the amber LED light. Is it for a vehicle? If so, is it an emergency vehicle or something else? If it’s not for a vehicle, what other setting will it be used in? This will help you narrow down your options significantly.
• Flash pattern and directional needs: Another key consideration is the flash pattern and directional needs of the amber LED light. Do you need a light that emits a steady stream of light? Or do you need one that flashes? Additionally, do you need a light that can be directed in a specific direction? These are important factors to consider.
• Power needs: Another factor to keep in mind is the power needs of the amber LED light. Some lights are battery-operated, while others need to be plugged into an outlet. Consider your needs in this area and choose accordingly.
• Price: Finally, you’ll also want to consider price when selecting an amber LED light. Fortunately, there are options available at a variety of different price points.

When it comes to choosing an amber LED light, there are a number of factors to keep in mind. By considering these factors, you can be sure to choose the ideal option for your needs. For more on this, or to learn about any of our emergency LED lights or other products, contact the pros at LED Equipped today.