Lightbars!?! Whats the deal?

[D. Hayes]

Ahh true true I was thinking in a daily driving sense. Still though I doubt it would do much damage to these lights. They are built for offroad use and are tougher than they look. Many of the manufactures make a polycarbonate lens cover for additional protection. Mainly for the Baja use where rocks are being launched at them from other trucks.

 

[Jason Foster]

Jeep sites would the be place to go look for good 'field lights'. Yeah....rather than flashy lightbars...I would install fog or driving lights, even on the sides of the car/roof rack for night shots to see my camera, tripod and the ground to make sure I don't step in a hole or gully and twist my ankle. I'd probably use the lower wattage for that purpose those....don't need 100w PIAAs for that close range.

 

[D. Hayes]

Jason you seen my truck? Me nor the next 3 counties don't have to worry about stepping in a hole. Course there is that sun burn problem.

 

[James Weatherman]

I could get sued for someone plowing into my vehicle? Really if someone can't see all my lights, they shouldn't be driving

Law Enforcement can be sued if they get hit while running lights. Anyone can sue anyone else now days and with that being said if you are running Reds and Blues at least in Kansas you can be stopped because those colors are for Emergency vehicles only. I am speaking for Kansas only so not sure what other states laws are. If you were running lights down the road and someone pulls over and gets in an accident you could be held liable for it as well. I would not run the Red and Blues. I would get different bulbs for them and make them amber. Emergency vehicles in Kansas if typically if they are running red and blues they have to have sirens on (unless you stop a vehicle, working an accident or something like that).

Not to mention if you are going down the road with them on people might think you are Law Enforcement and pull over and then once they see you are not chase after you and unleash some road rage on you.

Again in Kansas Red and Blue are emergency vehicles only (Fire, EMS, and Law Enforcement) you can't even have red or blue tag lights, under carriage lights or wheel lights.

 

[Chris Heater]

Law Enforcement can be sued if they get hit while running lights. Anyone can sue anyone else now days and with that being said if you are running Reds and Blues at least in Kansas you can be stopped because those colors are for Emergency vehicles only. I am speaking for Kansas only so not sure what other states laws are. If you were running lights down the road and someone pulls over and gets in an accident you could be held liable for it as well. I would not run the Red and Blues. I would get different bulbs for them and make them amber. Emergency vehicles in Kansas if typically if they are running red and blues they have to have sirens on (unless you stop a vehicle, working an accident or something like that).

Not to mention if you are going down the road with them on people might think you are Law Enforcement and pull over and then once they see you are not chase after you and unleash some road rage on you.

Again in Kansas Red and Blue are emergency vehicles only (Fire, EMS, and Law Enforcement) you can't even have red or blue tag lights, under carriage lights or wheel lights.

Unless I was a fireman (which I'm not) I would never run red and blue's. My lightbar is amber (with white steady-burn lights too). Use it only when stopped, at an accident, low visibility, etc and thats it. Not while driving down the road anymore. Confuses people from what i've seen

 

[Jason Foster]

Jason you seen my truck? Me nor the next 3 counties don't have to worry about stepping in a hole. Course there is that sun burn problem.

Yup....I bet. SPF 100 there.

BUT, you don't have any that point to the side. Like in the example I gave...or should better describe as pulled up on a shoulder, where there is a ditch just off the passenger door opening. It's 10pm, and that supercell is still ragging with a huge anvil, and you chase buddies head lights are slightly blinding you (or the person getting out the passenger side). Or, same spot, and you're setting up for some great CG shots...but, you can't find that damn jack to plug the remote release cable into because it's so dark, and your eyes are overly exposed to the bright lightning flashes.

BTW...you seen the new Raptor right?

PS...I like the Caddy better.....although I'll WILL kill you if you chase with that...or even leave it out in the hail!

 

[D. Hayes]

Transmission whoas on the truck delayed my order for the side lights. My golight spotlight will do a good job for most any direction once I put in the floodlight conversion.

That raptor is nice but the bad thing is they are selling for over MSRP. The caddy pretty much stay put in the garage while the wifes car stays outside. yup.

 

[terra seright]

LMAO! There is some comical stuff in here!

We have a light bar on our Blazer, and will be putting one on our new chaser as well. We also have reflective gear to wear, and have our CPR certifications. You never know when you can help out in an emergency...and high winds, large hail, heavy rain and tornadoes tend to cause emergencies. I wouldn't feel right just driving by an accident without stopping to try and lend aid. Light bars come in handy in certain situations. Better to be safe than sorry...as long as you don't run the lights just for the fun of it.

 

[Bryan Draper]

lightbars are good for high traffic areas.. and only on when stopped. unless you're out chasing for a department, or with a true research group. I have a full sized bar (amber front, amber & red rear) and various other lights on my truck...but the lights don't get used much while driving unless im driving slow. its the idiots who don't read law about colors and usage that screw us all over

 

[James Weatherman]

Another issue with Lightbars

I am not sure of on all states but if you run lightbars in Kansas if you run Red blue you are an emergency vehicle so you would require emergency vehicle insurance which can get pretty costly. I am not sure if running light bars of amber color or anything like that would or could cause your insurance rates to go up. I would check if I was going to run any light bar because to me you are pulling more attention to yourself which could cause more accidents that you are responsible for or could be.

 

[Dave Marshall]

I'll say right off that until recently I ran a 2 rotator mini-bar on my truck. I chased the deep south, GA and AL mostly, and found it pretty useful. That being said, I would have removed the light before going out to the plains for a trip, as I don't personally see myself needing it very often out there. Visibility is pretty good out west. Roads are usually pretty straight, and trees aren't quite as much of a problem. That's all personal preference though. I'd be willing to bet there are chasers out west that would disagree with me.

In Georgia, my primary stomping ground, roads other than interstates (which were damn few and far between) tended to be winding, hilly affairs slammed by trees on both sides. Add to that the fact that virtually every storm down there was HP, visibility sucked always. Trees and assorted debris blocking the road was almost assured after even average summer thunderstorms, and the light came in handy when stopped on the side of the road at those sorts of situations. I think it got people to look up a little sooner and slow down in a little safer manner. I watched vehicles on two separate occasions just plow right into big pine trees laying across the road in pretty decent visibility.

I was rear-ended while pulled off (completely in the grass, no less!) at a tree blocking the road a couple years back. Pretty minimal damage to my vehicle, a couple of dents and scuffs, but the moron that hit me must have had a real interesting discussion with her insurance agent. I put the light on after that, and I think I've only used it while moving 3 times since, and all three were what I'd consider pretty emergent circumstances. Other than that, its only when I'm stopped and feel vulnerable due to poor visibility. Even then, I've started carrying road flares for road blockages, as I think it gets attention without drawing their gaze away from the road so much.

It's interesting that this is such a hot-button issue to so many different groups. Volunteer fire departments have exactly the same discussion over and over. Research shows that generally, you're less likely to be hit if you have a warning light on your vehicle. At the same time, there is some research that says people are more likely to hit vehicles *other* than yours when you run lights. It will be interesting to see how many states start to regulate emergency lights more carefully in the near future.

 

[David Mikulec]

I've got a pair of Sho-Me self-contained units that resemble the third taillight on the back deck of most passenger cars. When I do use them it's for the same reasons stated by Dave. Visibility. Around here it really is a must. That being said, mine are portable and mounted inside (on the back deck, facing rearward) - when I'm not chasing I keep them stored in the trunk.

 

[Brandon Jenkins]

I don't see the problem being with light bars in general but more so with people who take it a step too far and have strobes/multiple light bars or misuse their lights to illegally pass/run lights/etc. There is a time and place for them and driving through a small town in Kansas running red lights with your light bar and strobes going is not one of them and tends to draw warranted negative attention to the misuse problem involving emergency lights.