Kyle Soldani
EF2
LOL, I figured that'd come up eventually. 
I'm not in college yet, so there's still a possibility it'll change to a hawk.
I'm not in college yet, so there's still a possibility it'll change to a hawk.
Warning Lights
- Thread starter Bryan Draper
- Start date
mikedeason
EF5
You know, I don't get as much into this debate anymore as I use to. I like to have fun with it though.
That being said, Joey does make a good point in general here. If you're pulled safely off the road and you still run the risk of being hit by someone, a good insurance policy would be more useful than lights, reflective vests, etc.
Personally, since I started chasing in 1993, I've never had any encounter that made me think I needed additional lights. I also generally avoided places where chaser convergences were happening in the first place.
Either way is fine. You want them, go for it. However, my long standing caveat still stands: You run up on my rear end when I'm doing the speed limit like you're on an emergency call and we'll probably have a three way conversation with a local law enforcement officer a little further down the road. And don't try to tell me this is silly; I've had it happen several times over the years already. If you've got to have them, use them responsibly!
David Drummond
Member
I personally just like as many lights as possible to draw as much attention to myself as I can so I can strut around the storm like the head rooster. Not to mention, it helps the lightning and tornadoes target me in among the dozens of other chasers. See, I do it for you guys!
mikedeason
EF5
And don't forget valves from exploding tanks!
Dan Robinson
Am I really posting in this thread on May 17? Guess it's the start of a death ridge, so it's cool.
I very, very rarely find an occasion to use supplimental lights while chasing, but I believe they are good standby equipment. By 'standby' I mean something that you typically don't use, but is a lifesafer when you need it.
I don't think it's a stretch to believe that supplimental lights have some use. Tow trucks use them. Flag cars. Rural mail carriers. Construction vehicles. Salt trucks. Snowplows. City maintenance vehicles. An on and on and on. The law even *requires* them in certain situations, which means people who know about these things figured out that they are effective to at least some degree, IE, not totally useless.
Chasing by definition is an activity that largely involves driving, being on the highways in adverse weather and frequent slowing/stopping. That seems like a pretty justifiable case for having supplimental lighting to me. And I'm not talking about parking illegally, speeding around slower vehicles and running the lights all day. I'm talking about pulling over in places that cars do not normally pull over or turn. I'm talking about slowing down in places that vehicles normally don't slow down. One could make a case that chasers and spotters should be required to have supplimental lighting for those reasons. And I have a suspicion that if you asked a good sampling of law enforcement personnel, the majority would agree. If you read your state's highway code, use of supplimental lights (ambers) is allowed - and sometimes required - in nearly every state for vehicles that "require unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing". You want to talk about chasing legislation, I wouldn't be surprised if lightbars/flashers actually became mandatory equipment, after a family in a minivan rear-ends and later sues a spotter or chaser who slowed to pull over in an unexpected place without lighting. Wow, wouldn't that be a 20-pager topic on ST. I could even see chasers eventually being ticketed for not using extra lighting when pulling over in certain spots. I have to say that would be irony beyond irony.
"Safety lighting" doesn't have to mean mega super-duper weather wacker pulsing rotating lightbar with 50 halogens and strobes. It also doesn't mean running them all day for no reason, from the start of the chase to the end. For those who cringe at the idea of having any visible lights, there are plenty of options out there for rear window mounts, taillight strobes, and so on that no one can see unless they're running.
This is all common sense. I have lights because I don't want to get rear-ended by a semi when I'm slowing to find that barely visible pull-off on a remote Kansas two-lane, when I stop to clear a big tree branch blocking the road, or any number of situations where I have a legitimate reason to stop or slow down in an unexpected place. Those scenarios *do* happen, and I *do* use my lights in those situations. If those situations never happen to you and you feel no need for lights as a consequence, then I guess my hat's off to you.
That being said, I've decided that there isn't much use for forward-facing lights. Rear-facing ambers are the more sensible choice, and proven to be more effective than other colors in doing what you want them to do.
There, now I can copy-and-paste this response when the next lightbar thread pops up in a couple of months.
I very, very rarely find an occasion to use supplimental lights while chasing, but I believe they are good standby equipment. By 'standby' I mean something that you typically don't use, but is a lifesafer when you need it.
I don't think it's a stretch to believe that supplimental lights have some use. Tow trucks use them. Flag cars. Rural mail carriers. Construction vehicles. Salt trucks. Snowplows. City maintenance vehicles. An on and on and on. The law even *requires* them in certain situations, which means people who know about these things figured out that they are effective to at least some degree, IE, not totally useless.
Chasing by definition is an activity that largely involves driving, being on the highways in adverse weather and frequent slowing/stopping. That seems like a pretty justifiable case for having supplimental lighting to me. And I'm not talking about parking illegally, speeding around slower vehicles and running the lights all day. I'm talking about pulling over in places that cars do not normally pull over or turn. I'm talking about slowing down in places that vehicles normally don't slow down. One could make a case that chasers and spotters should be required to have supplimental lighting for those reasons. And I have a suspicion that if you asked a good sampling of law enforcement personnel, the majority would agree. If you read your state's highway code, use of supplimental lights (ambers) is allowed - and sometimes required - in nearly every state for vehicles that "require unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing". You want to talk about chasing legislation, I wouldn't be surprised if lightbars/flashers actually became mandatory equipment, after a family in a minivan rear-ends and later sues a spotter or chaser who slowed to pull over in an unexpected place without lighting. Wow, wouldn't that be a 20-pager topic on ST. I could even see chasers eventually being ticketed for not using extra lighting when pulling over in certain spots. I have to say that would be irony beyond irony.
"Safety lighting" doesn't have to mean mega super-duper weather wacker pulsing rotating lightbar with 50 halogens and strobes. It also doesn't mean running them all day for no reason, from the start of the chase to the end. For those who cringe at the idea of having any visible lights, there are plenty of options out there for rear window mounts, taillight strobes, and so on that no one can see unless they're running.
This is all common sense. I have lights because I don't want to get rear-ended by a semi when I'm slowing to find that barely visible pull-off on a remote Kansas two-lane, when I stop to clear a big tree branch blocking the road, or any number of situations where I have a legitimate reason to stop or slow down in an unexpected place. Those scenarios *do* happen, and I *do* use my lights in those situations. If those situations never happen to you and you feel no need for lights as a consequence, then I guess my hat's off to you.
That being said, I've decided that there isn't much use for forward-facing lights. Rear-facing ambers are the more sensible choice, and proven to be more effective than other colors in doing what you want them to do.
There, now I can copy-and-paste this response when the next lightbar thread pops up in a couple of months.
Last edited by a moderator:
Jesse Risley
Staff member
I really don't see why people care whether or not some chasers choose to use additional warning lights in the field.
As long as you don't try to cut others off or force them to yield to your camp because you're using pretty flashing lights, then it's really none of anyone's business.
As long as you don't try to cut others off or force them to yield to your camp because you're using pretty flashing lights, then it's really none of anyone's business.
Tim Shriver
EF4
To me this is a silly issue.
Some folks have lights some folks have cars stuffed
full of radios, laptops, tvs, scanners, toaster ovens.
Some have it all.
To me the TIV is silly, but to others it is cool.
I use inside lights, two gen3 LEDs in the back and one in the front.
Nothing mounted outside of the car cept two antennas.
One UHF and one VHF.
I use them for sitting on the side of country road during
weather events, during
downpowers and any other road emergency.
Yes. I do think some over do it with stickers, lights, antennas, weather
gauges and what ever they can mount or stick to the outside of the car.
But then this is America and to each their own.
Tim
Some folks have lights some folks have cars stuffed
full of radios, laptops, tvs, scanners, toaster ovens.
Some have it all.
To me the TIV is silly, but to others it is cool.
I use inside lights, two gen3 LEDs in the back and one in the front.
Nothing mounted outside of the car cept two antennas.
One UHF and one VHF.
I use them for sitting on the side of country road during
weather events, during
downpowers and any other road emergency.
Yes. I do think some over do it with stickers, lights, antennas, weather
gauges and what ever they can mount or stick to the outside of the car.
But then this is America and to each their own.
Tim
Steve Rynbrandt
I also wear a helmet, wrap myself in bubble wrap and wear personal flotation devices. It never hurts to be too safe!
Well done! Just curious, do those PFD's need to be DoT approved instead of the US Coast Guard?
Jim Saueressig
EF5
I think the only time it really bothers me is when someone lights up their x cop car as an excuse to play wanna be cop because they have a lack of manliness that makes em think this will help em with their ego trip. If you are doing it for safety then so be it. If it is for a power trip then just go shoot yourself. 
mikedeason
EF5
To be honest, it's not a real PFD; it's an inflatable rubber ducky swim ring I got at the dollar store.
Jason Foster
I can't think of anything funny right now....but I'll be back (so don't shut down the thread yet).
Oh...and one thing that was mentioned....construction vehicles. I've always noticed that when they use them....they are stationary....not driving down the road.
If I get strobes and lights.....I'm not telling anyone....in fact....I'll give anyone $100 if they photography me chasing with them on (if I get them).
Oh...and one thing that was mentioned....construction vehicles. I've always noticed that when they use them....they are stationary....not driving down the road.
If I get strobes and lights.....I'm not telling anyone....in fact....I'll give anyone $100 if they photography me chasing with them on (if I get them).
Eric Whitehill
EF1
Here's my question.
Will your light bar do anything to protect you if someone hits you because they are blinded by your lights? How are all of us supposed to know your forward facing strobe light means there's a tornado warning?
Light bars do not stop cars when they hit you. If you are pulled off the road enough, you should not need to 'make sure that people know where you are." I wish Chris Novy would weigh in on this, as he has a very good presentation on light bars in his trainings.
Can you also define 'use responsibility' for us? Apparently, that's something that is lacking on StormTrack.
Kyle Soldani
EF2
I'm not real sure how low intensity LED's and a generic lightbar blinds people, so i'll ignore that part.
You're right, it doesn't keep people from hitting me. But what it does do is make people aware that I'm there and generally people slow down a tad for people pulled off the side of the road. In a high precip situation, you wouldn't see me, the lightbar however makes me visible.
Sure. Using lights responsibly, like others have said, entails not acting like you're on an emergency call and expecting others to pull over for you. I don't speed, I don't run red lights, I don't make abrupt maneuvers, I don't park in the middle of the road, I don't 'pose' as an emergency vehicle and I sure as hell don't act like the lights give me special authority in a given situation.
Jesse puts this quite frank in his post.
It's a personal choice. I use them, you don't. Get over it.
Rob Herman
EF2
The biggest problem I have had with lights is when I'm stuck following someone with their emergency flashers on. Every time they flash on I have to figure out whether they are braking or not. I usually just use my EF's when I'm PARKED on the side of the road. (PS: The third break light isn't a big help.)
Ryan McGinnis
EF5
Mother nature is mixing it up on you. It's like paper/rock/scissor. You get lightning five times in a row and then BAM! Hail.
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