What colors are typically used for emergency vehicle lights?

Emergency vehicle lights are typically red and blue because these colors have been standardized in many jurisdictions for identification and visibility purposes. Red is commonly associated with emergencies, signaling urgency, and the need to yield or pull over. It captures attention quickly, particularly in low-light conditions. Blue lights are often used in combination with red lights to further enhance visibility and indicate the presence of an emergency response vehicle.

This color combination allows emergency responders to be easily recognized by the public, ensuring that they can navigate through traffic efficiently in critical situations. The use of red and blue is widely accepted and recognized across various states and communities, reinforcing a universal understanding among drivers regarding the presence and importance of responding emergency vehicles.

Other color combinations, such as yellow, green, amber, or purple, are generally reserved for non-emergency situations or specific types of vehicles, like roadside assistance or maintenance, which do not convey the same sense of urgency as red and blue lights do.