How Lightbars Are Made

Have you ever thought about lightbars? No? Thought not. They are certainly one of the less heralded items around beavering away doing their job so efficiently that nobody really notices. However, they're worth taking notice of because developments in the technology of these devices affects everyone who uses the roads.

The police have been using lightbars for sirens for decades. Their purpose was simple - to draw attention to an emergency vehicles so other road users could make adjustments accordingly. Every driver now understands the routine when they see those flashing lights in their wing mirror. Pull aside, let them through and of course watch out for any idiot trying to follow in the emergency vehicle's wake.

Originally, lightbars were pretty basic. They consisted of revolving lights which gave the impression of flashing when viewed from any angle. This would also be followed by a siren to alert both audio and visual senses.

However, technology quickly moved on apace. First came the revolving beacon light. With these a mirror revolved around a static light giving a more vibrant effect. To keep them steady it was necessary to install a steel bar across the roof in order to keep them on an even keel. It was here that the term lightbars first came into common usage.

This formed the basis of the technology from which all future models would be derived. Today's versions now make use of all sorts of mechanisms. We see halogen lights, LED's and even strobes. These all in their own way serve to maximise the visibility. With some manufacturers you might even see varying programmable light and sound patterns. The purpose may be to increase the effectiveness of the device in attracting the attention of motorists - or perhaps just to add a bit of fun and variety.

There are obvious problems with the strobe patterns. Some models have been known to trigger epileptic episodes among some drivers. This can be avoided by reducing the frequencies of the flashing light to a degree that is less likely to spark problems but one has to wonder if this eliminates the issue once and for all.

Considering the basic function of lightbars - to alert road users to the presence of an emergency vehicle - it might seem odd to think that there have been so many advances in this realm. However, our world is becoming more busy and noisy by the day. Making yourself heard is becoming an ever more difficult challenge which is why technology has to stay constantly in motion.