Meet The Collectors Of Light Bars

If you look around the world at the moment, one thing holds true more than anything else. Some people will take the time to stop and collect almost anything, so it should come as no surprise when we find a number of interesting individuals who devote their entire time to collecting light bars.

In case you don't know already these are most commonly used as the sirens for emergency services such as the police and the Ambulance. Their aim is simple - to attract as much attention as is humanly possible. To broadcast the position of the car and make sure everyone else gets out of the way.

If you drive regularly on the roads you'll know they do this very well. One minute you can be driving along perfectly happily, the next you're diving for cover by the curb as the white flashing lights come screaming past.

In all the confusion it can be all too easy to forget the kind of dedication and development that went into making these devices. Yes, they may not look it, but these humble light bars are one of the most important inventions ever made. Why? Let me explain.

They first became noticeable on the earliest vehicles. Back then they comprised a simple light bulb revolving around to give the impression of a flashing light.

Before long there were developments afoot. By the sixties and seventies our brave men in blue had decided to use lots of bulbs. More would obviously be better. They arranged them in a horizontal formation along the top of the car roof encased in glass. Thus the term light bars first came into regular uses.

Developments in this sector continue apace. Boffins all over the world dedicated substantial time and effort into finding new ways to attract the attention of motorists more quickly and get them out of the way faster.

Modern techniques involve strobe lighting light bars. The down side of this should appear obvious. Flashing lights such as these must surely run the risk of triggering epileptic seizures in some people. However, the makers have worked hard to reduce the frequency of the flashing lights to something below the level that normally triggers attacks.

So there you have it - a tiny potted history of the story of light bars. There's much more to discover as I'm sure you'll find out if you ever closely investigate one of the enthusiast clubs that have sprung up around the place. What a wonderful world it is.