Personal vehicle lighting

Slice, are you paid or volley?
 
Remeber343 said:
Slice, are you paid or volley?
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Both...sorta.

For a long time we got a per-diem for a 12 hour ambulance shift and then a set amount per call. Now, just recently, we are hourly on the ambulance side. But the fire side is still on the old system.
 
ffemt8978 said:
POV lighting is a contentious subject that is pretty much frowned upon by the members here.
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I've noticed after reading through all the posts. While there were a few crappy answers from people many of you had honest input that I appreciated a lot. After consideration and cost ratio to actual need I've decided that I will not outfit my car. EVEN IF IT WAS an idea that isn't frowned on, I just don't come across to enough to justify getting them.

Again thank you got the input.

P.S what is a ricky rescue? I'm not new but I also didn't get into being an EMT to be a hero. If I wanted to be a hero I'd be in law enforcement or a fire fighter (people who put their lives on the line to save others). They IMO are true heros.
 
Medic29 said:
I've noticed after reading through all the posts. While there were a few crappy answers from people many of you had honest input that I appreciated a lot. After consideration and cost ratio to actual need I've decided that I will not outfit my car. EVEN IF IT WAS an idea that isn't frowned on, I just don't come across to enough to justify getting them.

Again thank you got the input.

P.S what is a ricky rescue? I'm not new but I also didn't get into being an EMT to be a hero. If I wanted to be a hero I'd be in law enforcement or a fire fighter (people who put their lives on the line to save others). They IMO are true heros.
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http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Ricky Rescue

And I appreciate the feedback on the post.
 
LOL I guess I'm a wacker because I do have sheers on my pants. Sorry, whenever I don't have them I need them, so.....

....but no batman utility belt, although sometimes I could really use a Leatherman:P
 
I know this is a very old post but this first paragraph is not factual at all. I am a P&C insurance agent and do EMS 24 hours a week. If this is true you would have to call when you put a new stereo in your car, a DVD playing system etc. This has absolutley nothing to do with your cars safety systems.( if you unhook your ABS or disable you airbags, then you're screwed) It's also not considered higher risk because you MUST obey ALL traffic laws just like the guy without a light. I guess in 2004 when this was first written people weren't using strobes in their windshield.

Liability
Bet you didn't think you would have to call your insurance company before you put lights in your vehicle, but this is important. Some insurance policies have clauses where they won't cover your vehicle if you perform modifications to your vehicle's protective systems, even if your adding to them. Adding lights increases the load on your electrical system, and therefore increases the risk of shorts, fires, and other problems. In addition, your insurance company may want to charge you higher premiums because you're now using your vehicle for something that is higher risk than normal everyday use. If you don't think it's that much more of risk, then why do you think you need lights?

Also, under liability, I'm going to take a moment and address the use of arrow sticks. THESE ARE A BAD IDEA for POV's. Simply put, once you use these, you are in effect directing traffic. This may be illegal in some areas, and legal in others. Regardless of the legality, you may assume the liability for directing traffic. What this means is that if you have your arrow stick going to the left to move traffic to the left, and a vehicle gets into an accident because of your traffic revision, you may be financially liable for the damages.

Coverage
It seems like most people forget that they need to protect their vehicle from every direction. Just because headlights and taillights cover the front and the back, doesn't mean that you can ignore side protection also. This is what makes the hide-a-way systems like taillight/headlight strobes, arrow stick, and lights on the dash a bad choice. They're great for front and back protection, but offer very little if any side protection.

Quantity
How much is too much? This is a case where less is better. A single rotator or strobe, positioned on the roof will offer better coverage with less current draw than having a full blown police package setup inside of the vehicle. In addition, this will allow you to be seen without affecting or distracting the other drivers that you're worried about.

Location
I covered this briefly earlier, but am going to expound on it here. Where do you put your lights? Low profile and hidden lights are great when they are not being used, but suffer some visibility problems once they are turned on. Any light that you have on your dash or inside of your vehicle will reflect across your entire windshield or rear window, and seriously affect your visibility while driving or spotting.

A full blown lightbar, besides being expensive, is generally unnecessary and can be a bigger distraction than you realize, to you and other drivers. A full blown external lightbar has a multitude of switches and generally requires a full switch panel to effectively operate.

So what is the best balance between the visibility of an external light bar, and the low profile lack of attention from hidden lights? Simple, a light that you can mount on your roof when needed and remove when not needed.

Types
LED's, strobes, and halogen...which one do you choose? Each has their advantage and disadvantage.

LED's are the new fad in lightbars, and in my opinion, aren't all they are cracked up and hyped up to be. Yes, they are very bright, but only if you are looking directly at them. They don't reflect off of other objects the way strobes and halogen do. This makes them very good for rear protection (such as brake lights and turn signals) but not so good for front protection. In addition, while their bulbs last longer, they are more expensive to purchase and repair if something goes wrong. On the up side, they draw less current that strobes or halogens.

Strobes are the best at attracting somebody's attention when they aren't looking directly at you. The down side is that they can reflect back and affect your vision more than any other light. They tend to draw the most current, and often times require a seperate power supply for them. In addition, replacing bulbs in not always a cheap proposition. A single external strobe can provide simultaneous 360 degree protection when it flashes.

Halogen rotators have fallen out of favor because they aren't as flashy as strobes or LED's, but they are the best bang for your buck. Bulbs are cheap and easy to replace, they have a moderate current draw, and generally don't require a seperate power supply. The draw back is that the rotator can only protect you in the direction that the mirror is facing, which means that while it will cover 360 degrees, it doesn't do it at the same time. There is a time lapse as the mirror rotates the 360 degress.
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VirginiaEMT said:
I know this is a very old post but this first paragraph is not factual at all. I am a P&C insurance agent and do EMS 24 hours a week. If this is true you would have to call when you put a new stereo in your car, a DVD playing system etc. This has absolutley nothing to do with your cars safety systems.( if you unhook your ABS or disable you airbags, then you're screwed) It's also not considered higher risk because you MUST obey ALL traffic laws just like the guy without a light. I guess in 2004 when this was first written people weren't using strobes in their windshield.
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That is why I said "some insurance companies"...not all. It is also why I said vehicle protective systems, which has nothing to do with replacing a stereo. But it is good to know that the insurance companies don't care if you are using your vehicle in a high risk scenario to block an accident scene. Learn something new every day.
 
ffemt8978 said:
nd remove when not needed.

Types
LED's, strobes, and halogen...which one do you choose? Each has their advantage and disadvantage.

LED's are the new fad in lightbars, and in my opinion, aren't all they are cracked up and hyped up to be. Yes, they are very bright, but only if you are looking directly at them. They don't reflect off of other objects the way strobes and halogen do. This makes them very good for rear protection (such as brake lights and turn signals) but not so good for front protection. In addition, while their bulbs last longer, they are more expensive to purchase and repair if something goes wrong. On the up side, they draw less current that strobes or halogens.

Strobes are the best at attracting somebody's attention when they aren't looking directly at you. The down side is that they can reflect back and affect your vision more than any other light. They tend to draw the most current, and often times require a seperate power supply for them. In addition, replacing bulbs in not always a cheap proposition. A single external strobe can provide simultaneous 360 degree protection when it flashes.

Halogen rotators have fallen out of favor because they aren't as flashy as strobes or LED's, but they are the best bang for your buck. Bulbs are cheap and easy to replace, they have a moderate current draw, and generally don't require a seperate power supply. The draw back is that the rotator can only protect you in the direction that the mirror is facing, which means that while it will cover 360 degrees, it doesn't do it at the same time. There is a time lapse as the mirror rotates the 360 degress.
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Time to update this last section!
 
Called my insurance guy (awesome agent by the way). He says there is nothing in my policy that says I couldn't put lights on my vehicle however if I was involved in an accident while using them they would pay out on my liability and uninsured/underinsured but would not pay out on my comprehensive. I would have to get a separate rider. I have a very good insurance policy through one of the major companies. For those of you who do have lights and use em you might want to talk to your agent because this could make for a very expensive insurance "gotcha".
 
bigbaldguy said:
Called my insurance guy (awesome agent by the way). He says there is nothing in my policy that says I couldn't put lights on my vehicle however if I was involved in an accident while using them they would pay out on my liability and uninsured/underinsured but would not pay out on my comprehensive. I would have to get a separate rider. I have a very good insurance policy through one of the major companies. For those of you who do have lights and use em you might want to talk to your agent because this could make for a very expensive insurance "gotcha".
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That was the point I was trying to make in my post. Call them beforehand so that you and they are on the same page.
 
ffemt8978 said:
That is why I said "some insurance companies"...not all. It is also why I said vehicle protective systems, which has nothing to do with replacing a stereo. But it is good to know that the insurance companies don't care if you are using your vehicle in a high risk scenario to block an accident scene. Learn something new every day.
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Just saying it's not even a question that is asked.. However, we do ask if you drive to work... LOL!! How else would I get there??? I have a perfectly good car, so I'm not going to walk..
 
VirginiaEMT said:
Just saying it's not even a question that is asked.. However, we do ask if you drive to work... LOL!! How else would I get there??? I have a perfectly good car, so I'm not going to walk..
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So I guess my question then becomes:

If you add the vehicle lighting, then your car gets damaged in a secondary accident while you are stopped at the scene of an accident with your lights flashing, will the insurance company pay for all damages, or will they claim that you were using the vehicle in a manner they were not aware of and did not approve of?
 
ffemt8978 said:
How so? I still stand by those statements.
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LEDs have advanced to the point of being at the very least equal in all respects of performance when compared to strobes and halogens. Generation three "super LED" lightheaded are at least as visible off angle as strobes are. They draw significantly less current, have no moving parts, better flash patterns, and have a very slim profile allowing for less intrusive mounting options. Halogens are of course still cheaper but not all that effective during the day, unlike recent LEDs. A vehicle outfitted with all LEDS may be more expensive upfront but the lack of draw on the electrical system and relative infrequent need of service will pay for itself.

Sadly my company has outfitted our new ambulances with halogen flashers that do not hold a candle to the older trucks all LED packages.
 
Forgot our soldiers in my heros list. New post cause I haven't figured out how to edit on the iPhone.
 
Some of our local law enforcement uses the LED light bars, or even the low profile mounting systems. I still stand by my assertion that they are not necessarily all they are claimed to be.

Yes, LEDs are very bright when you look at them, but they still have issues attracting a drivers attention when the driver is NOT looking at them. Even in the night time, the LED light bars do not light up the interior of the car in front of you nearly as much as a strobe or halogen does.
 
Medic29 said:
Forgot our soldiers in my heros list. New post cause I haven't figured out how to edit on the iPhone.
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You can only edit for 15 minutes after your post is made.
 
ffemt8978 said:
So I guess my question then becomes:

If you add the vehicle lighting, then your car gets damaged in a secondary accident while you are stopped at the scene of an accident with your lights flashing, will the insurance company pay for all damages, or will they claim that you were using the vehicle in a manner they were not aware of and did not approve of?
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I would say they would pay the claim definitely. We pay claims for accidents caused by speeding, DUI's,etc. all of the time. We are more concerned if the business is used for business or pleasure. As an example, I use my car for my business but I pay for a business class on my insurance. If I am responding to my agency as a volunteer, that is personal use. Now, if you were in you vehicle and you are getting paid to use it, or if your cheif would ask you to go pick up something at the store and you use your own car to do it, your insurance company would be primary but the departments "non-owned" auto coverage would pay anything over your limits of liability. Think of it this way; if you park in the middle of the street for any reason, and you cause an accident because of it,your insurance company is going to pay for the damages. They may not be your insurance company for long but they will definitely pay the claim.

I would be more than happy to post a copy of the insurance contract language but it would be for Virginia only, when I get to work tomorrow.
 
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