bigred1cav wrote: Where to buy a few fuses? I could get a few from the PD but I don't like asking. Also I am interested in the flare holder, where is it for sale?
Another thing to remember is to store your flares, triangles or whatever in a compartment on the passenger side so you're not standing in the travel lane trying to get them out.
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dieharder wrote: I'm sure we've all seen those videos on TV where the cops with flashing lights get hit. Happens all over the place.
The problems with flashing lights and flares and is that those under the influence tend to fixate on them... we all know that where the eyes go, the steering wheel will usually follow. I don't carry flares for that reason. Those on the road paying attention will pay attention regardless and notice you. If someone doesn't notice a TT or motorhome on the side of the road in the first place aren't likely to suddenly notice because a light or flare. What I definitely don't need is a drunk magnet.
Excellent point, but it is not the fixation on the lights that causes this. The fact is that strobe lighting can trigger seizures in photosensitive epilepsy. And many people are sensitive to this and some don't know it. This is why you are seeing strobe lighting on emergency vehicles being replaced with LED lights.
Its not the strobe that does it (seizures), its the strobe flash pattern. When we installed fire horn/strobes with commercial fire alarm systems code required us to install a sync module when strobes were within sight of each other so they would flash at the same time.
dieharder wrote: I'm sure we've all seen those videos on TV where the cops with flashing lights get hit. Happens all over the place.
The problems with flashing lights and flares and is that those under the influence tend to fixate on them... we all know that where the eyes go, the steering wheel will usually follow. I don't carry flares for that reason. Those on the road paying attention will pay attention regardless and notice you. If someone doesn't notice a TT or motorhome on the side of the road in the first place aren't likely to suddenly notice because a light or flare. What I definitely don't need is a drunk magnet.
Excellent point, but it is not the fixation on the lights that causes this. The fact is that strobe lighting can trigger seizures in photosensitive epilepsy. And many people are sensitive to this and some don't know it. This is why you are seeing strobe lighting on emergency vehicles being replaced with LED lights.
Its not the strobe that does it (seizures), its the strobe flash pattern. When we installed fire horn/strobes with commercial fire alarm systems code required us to install a sync module when strobes were within sight of each other so they would flash at the same time.
to be specific -
"Strobe lights and epilepsy
Strobe lighting can trigger seizures in photosensitive epilepsy, thus most strobe lights on sale to the public are factory-limited to 10~12 flashes per second in their internal oscillators, although externally triggered strobe lights will often flash as frequently as possible. At a frequency of 10 Hz, 65% of affected people are still at risk. The British Health and Safety Executive recommends that a net flash rate for a bank of strobe lights does not exceed 5 flashes per second, at which only 5% of photosensitive epileptics are at risk. It also recommends that no strobing effect continue for more than 30 seconds due to the potential for discomfort and disorientation. However, these rules pertain to indoor use of strobes only and do not apply to strobes such as those used in emergency vehicle lightbars.
Strobe lights and accidents
Many police officers have complained that the blue colored strobe lights hurt their night vision, as opposed to red lights. However, the colors of the lights are set by state law, and although consideration has been given to these complaints in many jurisdictions, this is not the case everywhere. One way in which states have been able to mitigate this issue has been through the use of lightbars that allow control of the direction in which the blue lights are activated, and also by means of revised vehicle stop procedures to let police officers safely provide support at the scene while minimizing blue strobe light exposure to their eyes during darkness. This issue has become of particular concern in those jurisdictions where LED strobes are used due to their high luminosity (brightness)."
source: http://www.hyper-lights.com/strobe_light_history.php
"Dr. Stephen Solomon, an ophthalmologist who has studied emer gency vehicle colors and lighting, notes that the fire service philosophy has been to attract as much attention as possible through a combination of lights and light colors with varying degrees of reflection and flashes. Strong stimuli hold central gaze and drivers tend to steer in the direction of gaze. If fatigue, alcohol, or drugs impair the driver, the potential and degree of drift increases. He suggests this practice actually makes the fire apparatus a “visual, magnetic target.” He recommends reducing the time span of
looking toward a complex flashing light display by reducing the number, brightness and array of color, revolving strobe, and reflecting lights during emergency travel;"
source: page 35 in the Emergency Vehicle Safety Initiative
FA-272/August 2004
* This post was
edited 06/18/11 11:36pm by wny_pat *
hohenwald48 wrote: Another thing to remember is to store your flares, triangles or whatever in a compartment on the passenger side so you're not standing in the travel lane trying to get them out.
Good point! I carry three triangles, they ride in a box under the driver's seat. I also have a safety vest (they're about $15 at Work-N-Gear or rural WalMarts) & a few cones.
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Years ago when I started driving commercially you only used your 4 way flashers when you were broke down on the side of the road or stopped at an accident scene. Now the driving schools teach new drivers to use them going up and down hills when moving slower than the speed limit. Hence nobody pays attention to 4way flashers anymore. I like the commercial triangles as well.
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Let me give you my two cents worth after 33 years on the CHP.
We used tons of flares and they work GREAT if you know how to deploy them. While they can be used to move traffic away from you, if the pattern is wrong it will actually funnel traffic right into your vehicle.
At freeway speeds a flare pattern has to be several hundred feet long to work effectively. Way more than 3 or four flares.
Assuming you put out your 3 30 minutes flares in a pattern, what do you do when they all burn out? 30 minute flares last about 20 minutes and 20 minute flares last about 13-14 minutes.
Lighting flares is dangerous and the glowing embers that shoot out when striking them can blind you. ALWAYS turn your head to the side.
1. Don't throw the cap away.
2. Stick it on the butt end of the flare.
3. The little tit in the cap keeps the flare from rolling off the road.
There are actually two caps, a small, thin one that protects the striker. Throw the little one away.
4. Take the big cap off and hold it firmly at arm's length.
5. FIRMLY swipe the end of the flare that was covered by the cap across the cap AWAY from your face. It's like striking a big kitchen match.
6. Don't kept the molten material drop on you. It will instantly destroy your shoe.
7. Gently lay the flare on the ground. If you throw it they pop a spew crud everywhere.
8. If you have to put one out, gab it by the butt end and stub it out like a big cigarette.
All that being said, buy, carry and use the triangles. They're safer, more effective day or night, reusable, and don't burn out like flares.
I'LL SHOUT THIS LAST TIDBIT. IF YOU EVER ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO GET OUT ALONG SIDE ANY BUSY ROAD NEVER, EVER TURN YOUR BACK TO TRAFFIC FOR A SECOND. Have a spotter who is standing toward the front of the vehicle so they are facing traffic going in your direction as it approaches so they can warn you of impending danger.
Best advice is limp off the freeway. Most likely reason for stopping is a flat tire and it is already ruined so drive off slowly to a safe spot.
Flares don't last forever in your trunk. They get bad after 2-3 years so don't expect those you bought 15 years ago to burn or even light. We used to get quite a few duds out of new boxes.
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