Emergency vehicle lightingBosnia and Herzegovina

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43. Emergency vehicle lighting

Emergency vehicle lighting consists of special flashing or rotating lights used on authorised emergency or priority vehicles to make them highly visible and warn other road users. Police vehicles, ambulances, fire engines and other authorised response vehicles commonly use distinctive warning lights when responding to incidents.

The colour, meaning and permitted use of emergency lights vary between countries. When emergency lighting is active, road users should remain alert, identify the approaching vehicle and follow the local rules for giving way or creating a clear passage.

Emergency vehicle lighting
Emergency vehicle with warning lights during a disaster-response exercise. (Oberwart, Austria)
Wikimedia.org • BFV Radkersburg • CC BY-SA
What is emergency vehicle lighting?

Emergency vehicle lighting consists of special warning lights fitted to authorised emergency or priority vehicles to increase their visibility and alert other road users.

Which vehicles use emergency warning lights?

Depending on the country, they may be used by police vehicles, ambulances, fire engines, rescue vehicles and other authorised emergency services.

What should you do when you see emergency lights?

Remain alert, determine where the emergency vehicle is coming from and follow the applicable rules for giving way or creating a safe passage. The precise obligation depends on the country's traffic laws and whether an audible warning is also being used.

1 Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 Motorway 3 Quay 4 Give way 5 Roundabout 6 Railway crossing 7 Traffic lights 8 International border 9 Reversing 10 City limit 11 Tourist attraction 12 Bus 13 Police 14 Ambulance 15 Taxi 16 European emission standard 17 Pothole 18 Path 19 Particulates 20 Air pollution 21 Rush hour 22 Road code 23 Street gutter 24 Cargo bike 25 Forestry vehicle 26 Construction vehicle 27 Semi-trailer truck 28 Trolleybus 29 Speed pedelec 30 Delivery vehicle 31 Idling 32 Tow truck 33 Four-wheel drive 34 Bicycle 35 Motorcycle equipment 36 Rail track 37 Caravan 38 Trailer 39 Tow hitch 40 Fire truck 41 Siren 42 Convoy 43 Emergency vehicle lighting 44 Agricultural machinery 45 Electric bicycle 46 Electric vehicle 47 Pedelec 48 Quadricycle 49 Microcar 50 All-terrain vehicle 51 Van 52 Recreational vehicle 53 Scooter 54 Trikke 55 Personal mobility device 56 Skateboard 57 Segway 58 Kick scooter 59 Roller skates 60 Mailman 61 Hitchhiker 62 Toddler 63 Child 64 Disability 65 Motorail 66 km/h 67 mph 68 Speedometer 69 Ride height 70 Dirt road 71 Driving 72 Start-stop system 73 Manual transmission 74 Automatic transmission 75 Throttle 76 Tachometer 77 Steering wheel 78 Power steering 79 Visual scanning 80 Mirror 81 Fuel 82 Fuel gauge 83 Petrol 84 Diesel 85 Diesel exhaust fluid 86 Car insurance 87 First aid kit 88 Fire extinguisher 89 High-visibility clothing 90 First aid 91 Concrete step barrier 92 Barriers 93 Vehicle lights 94 Street lights 95 Dipped beam 96 High beam 97 Fog lights 98 Front fog lights 99 Rear fog lights 100 Side lights ...