Amber Lights
Amber lights help to increase the visibility of large trucks on the road and aim to help other drivers better orient these trucks -- both in size and distance -- to themselves. When amber lights are used properly, they can dramatically reduce the instances of rear-end crashes.
When amber lights are used properly, they can dramatically reduce the instances of rear-end crashes.
What Are Amber Lights?
Amber lights are blinking lights on the back of an 18-wheeler truck. They face rearward, aiming to reduce truck crashes, specifically rear-end collisions. Blinking lights catch the attention of other motorists better than any other kind of lighting, which is why emergency vehicles use them.
The trucking company, Groendyke Transport, pioneered the use of amber lights, and the results were spectacular — a 34% decrease in rear-end truck accidents. This accomplishment amounts to even more than it might first appear. The measured reduction in rear-end accidents occurred over a sustained period of 31 months, using lights that cost only $150 per truck.
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Referrals & Co-Counsel
No other law firm knows trucks quite like us. Our trucking law expertise and trial experience allow us to win multi-million-dollar results year after year.
Involved in a Crash?
Our team of truck accident attorneys works tirelessly to help your family find justice in the wake of a catastrophic truck crash.
Current Requirements & Regulations Regarding Tractor-Trailer Lights
Federal regulations include extensive lighting regulations for trucks. For example, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 (FMVSS 108) governs safety lights for trucks. Since FMVSS 108 is federal law, it prevails over contrary state law. If federal regulations do not govern the manufacture of a particular form of lighting, state standards prevail. Blinking lights are illegal on trucks under federal law, with limited exceptions (turn signals and hazard lights). Nevertheless, Groendyke Transport was able to obtain a special exception from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to use these lights for five years.
Crash. Not Accident.
The word “accident” is often used to describe devastating truck crashes. Many people in need of legal help will search for a “truck accident lawyer near me” or the “best truck accident attorney”. We even use "accident" in our site name.
However, most truck “accidents” are not accidents at all.
Truck crashes are often caused by distracted, fatigued, poorly trained, or downright dangerous truck drivers and/or the unsafe business practices of the trucking companies and brokers that hired them. Every semi-truck accident lawyer at The Law Firm for Truck Safety is committed to helping those who have been irreparably harmed in commercial vehicle crashes and providing education to the public that crashes are not accidents.
Lamps, Reflectors, and Other Devices
FMVSS 108 requires a truck’s exterior lamps and reflectors to be permanently attached to specific locations on the truck. They must be either parallel or perpendicular to the truck’s centerline unless they obtain certification to face another angle.
Sometimes trucking companies try to evade these restrictions by installing auxiliary devices that undercut the required lighting functions. To avoid nighttime truck accidents, federal regulations do not permit this practice unless the devices meet specific requirements.
FMVSS 108 requires a truck’s exterior lamps and reflectors to be permanently attached to specific locations on the truck. They must be either parallel or perpendicular to the truck’s centerline unless they obtain certification to face another angle.
Sometimes trucking companies try to evade these restrictions by installing auxiliary devices that undercut the required lighting functions. To avoid nighttime truck accidents, federal regulations do not permit this practice unless the devices meet specific requirements.
Sometimes trucking companies try to evade these restrictions by installing auxiliary devices that undercut the required lighting functions. To avoid nighttime truck accidents, federal regulations do not permit this practice unless the devices meet specific requirements.
Sometimes trucking companies try to evade these restrictions by installing auxiliary devices that undercut the required lighting functions. To avoid nighttime truck accidents, federal regulations do not permit this practice unless the devices meet specific requirements.
Other Truck Lighting Regulations
DOT trailer light requirements are not limited to FMVSS 108. Federal regulations include extensive requirements for truck lighting that go far beyond FMVSS 108. Some of these regulations are obvious. For example, all required lighting on a truck (not limited to the rear) must function correctly. Required lighting includes:
- Brake lights
- Hazard lights
- Turn signals
- Tail lights
- Headlights; and
- Marker lights
Although federal law does not regulate underbody lighting, most states prohibit it. “Chicken lights” are legal, but they must be amber if they face forward and red if they face backward. The truck driver must ensure that all lights are working correctly and that no illegal lighting is attached to the truck.
Tail Lights
Tail lights must be red, but they can be LED or incandescent. At least two tail lights must be installed.
Headlights
Headlights must be fully functional and maintained in a forward position (not at an angle). They must be maintained appropriately, so visual obstructions do not build up and dim the lights.
Marker Lights
Marker lights define the edge of the truck—two in the center and four on each corner. State trucking regulations require at least five amber lights on the top of the front of the truck’s cab. The purpose of these lights is to show other motorists the height and general outline of the truck at night.
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Explore how our firm helps truck crash victims find justice inside and outside of the courtroom.
Explore how The Law Firm for Truck Safety has helped truck crash victims champion their stories for justice -- inside and outside of the courtroom.
Why Should the FMCSA Require Amber Lights for Trucks?
There are many reasons to use an amber light bar for a truck (actually, some of them are yellow, but they perform the same function). These reasons include:
- They can dramatically reduce the risk of a rear-end collision. Rear-end collisions amount to about a third of all traffic accidents.
- Amber lights are easy to install.
- They can dramatically reduce the risk of a rear-end collision. Rear-end collisions amount to about a third of all traffic accidents.
- They are so inexpensive that their cost is almost not even a consideration for a commercial enterprise.
- Amber lights are easy to install.
- They are easy to notice. Indeed, they are almost impossible to ignore when they flash. The strobe effect can be quite a powerful attention-getter.
- They are so inexpensive that their cost is almost not even a consideration for a commercial enterprise.
- They are easy to notice. Indeed, they are almost impossible to ignore when they flash. The strobe effect can be quite a powerful attention-getter.
- Flashing amber strobe lights can reduce braking times enough to avoid a serious (or even fatal) accident. The difference between life and death on the highway can be a tenth of a second or less.
- Amber is the industry standard color for non-emergency vehicles. Use another color, especially blue or red, and you could face legal problems.
- They are versatile. You can program the lighting into different strobe patterns, for example.
- LED suppliers offer a great variety of amber light bars.
Federal regulations include extensive lighting regulations for trucks. For example, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 (FMVSS 108) governs safety lights for trucks. Since FMVSS 108 is federal law, it prevails over contrary state law. If federal regulations do not govern the manufacture of a particular form of lighting, state standards prevail. Blinking lights are illegal on trucks under federal law, with limited exceptions (turn signals and hazard lights). Nevertheless, Groendyke Transport was able to obtain a special exception from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to use these lights for five years.
Other Essential Truck Safety Solutions
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One of the best ways to keep dangerous truck drivers off the road is by holding them accountable in a court of law. If a negligent truck driver or unsafe motor carrier hiring and training practices played a role in your truck crash, contact The Law Firm for Truck Safety.
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