Have you ever encountered purple warning lights on the road? We wouldn’t be surprised if you haven’t—the use of purple warning lights is a fairly new practice, and they have a very unique, niche purpose. But however uncommon purple lights may be, they’re no less important than other colored warning lights, like blue or red. To find out more about purple lights and what they’re used for, keep reading!
Tip: if you’re looking to outfit your vehicle with purple lights, we always recommend checking your local state laws to make sure you’re able to do so.
Funeral Processions
Unlike red or blue lights—which are heavily restricted, but widely used by emergency vehicles—purple warning lights are most commonly used for one application: funeral processions. Funeral processions can be complicated to maneuver, especially in heavy traffic. A lack of awareness by nearby drivers can, and has had, catastrophic consequences. To prevent accidental crashes and to protect funeral processions on the road, purple warning lights (sometimes in combination with amber or white lights) are quickly becoming industry standard.
In some states, like New York, bills have been proposed which would require drivers to yield the right of way to funeral processions. Drivers would be prohibited from cutting off or merging into convoys and failure to do so could result in a civil fine. These bills haven't been passed yet, but in the meantime, purple warning lights are a fantastic solution; they provide a powerful warning to nearby drivers that is difficult to miss.Â
Purple warning lights might be the new kids on the block, but they serve a critical and essential purpose. If your funeral home needs a set of purple lights, give us a call! We’d love to help you find the right combination of products for your application.
Sources
NY State Senate Bill S376. NY State Senate. (2018, December 8). https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2013/s376?intent=support