If you’re setting up to equip your police cruiser with a new police light, the process of finding the right model can seem quite overwhelming. The key to finding the right setup for your cruiser, though, boils down to a few key features that are core to the safe and lasting function of quality lights. We’ve created this guide to help you choose the right police light setup, with 4 simple features you can remember when you go shopping for the equipment your cruiser needs.
Feature 1: LED
A simple fact about modern lighting setups is that LED is the way to go. LED lights last longer, shine brighter, and recycle easier. The reason for this is simple: they’re more technologically advanced. LED light bulbs are miniscule, taking advantage of new discoveries in electrical engineering to produce bright light with no heated filaments or gasses involved.
The efficient design of LED bulbs mean that their lifespans are orders of magnitude greater than traditional bulbs while simultaneously being less expensive to replace. They are also incredibly easy to recycle since they use no toxic materials and do not require an extensive manufacturing process.
Feature 2: Programmable Controls
One of the most valuable features to have in your cruiser’s police light is the ability to program the flash patterns from within the vehicle. Many quality bars offer this feature, which allows your officers to quickly make adjustments to what their light bar is communicating. Quickly flashing lights can warn drivers of an accident or of the need for the cruiser to pass, while slowly flashing lights can indicate a parked police car, construction, or a slowdown.
Feature 3: Multiple Color Options
While red and blue are the most common colors needed by officers for everyday use, having other color selections available can be extremely helpful, especially if your department, city, or state has multiple color designations. For example, in some states, green lights indicate security patrols and security checks. Having color choices means having the flexibility you need for any situation.
Feature 4: High Visibility Angle
The most important job that a light bar does is to broadcast information to motorists and pedestrians. A light bar cannot communicate to other drivers if it cannot be seen. One of the biggest problems with old-style, incandescent, strobing police lights were the blind spots created by the housing of the light bar and the mechanisms that created the strobe.
When buying a new light bar, make sure to choose from one of the many high-visibility models. Many LED light bars include 360-degree visibility models, which have nothing interrupting the LED array on any side of the device.
Now that you have an idea of what features to keep an eye on, it’s time to start the shopping process. If you’d like to start your journey to modern lighting solutions off on the right foot, visit Ultra Bright Lightz. Their team of vehicle lighting professionals has worked with police departments all across the country, and they’re ready to help you get what you need today!
