Blinking Flash Lights: A Cost-Effective Solution to Prevent Truck Accidents on the Road

Blinking flash lights to prevent truck accidents

In some states of the US, the state government does not prohibit using flashing head beams. Although it could be annoying for the traffic coming from the other side of the road as high beam lights are damaging for the drivers’ eyes, especially at night. 

However, In the case of flashing lights from behind, such as coming from a truck behind you, might have other meanings. On the other way round, if you flash lights on the trucker from behind, it could be for safety purposes as well.

Let us explore in this article how blinking flash lights to prevent truck accidents could be helpful. 

Benefits of Blinking Flash Lights for Trucks 

If you see a truck flashing lights at you, it might want to communicate to you something. For example, if a lady is sitting in the car in front, the trucker might want to grab the car driver’s attention by flashing lights from behind. As soon as the car driver sees the truck driver in his mirror, the truck driver would indicate him to check on the lady’s dress sticking out of the car’s door, which is highly risky. 

Other benefits of trucker light signals are as below:

Improved visibility and recognition by other drivers:

With a well-lit truck that is also passing signals on the road, it would be safer for the other vehicle drivers to know that the presence of the truck is what they have to take care of. They would be better informed to keep safety their priority, especially for the bikers who get distracted and are more seriously injured particularly on T-bone curves as compared to the car drivers. 

Enhanced warning of the truck’s presence and potential dangers:

The trucker light signals are not only for showing indicators or parking lights, as suggested by mandatory state laws. They are also for prescribing trucks’ presence on the road that would indicate other drivers and pedestrians for forthcoming dangers. Especially when the trucks are loaded with dangerous gases or petroleum oils whose spilling would pose danger to the people and the environment. 

Increased safety for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians:

For enhancing safety on the road for all, sharing safe interactions with each other is the key. It is for this very reason that truckers’ etiquette for flashing lights must be taught during entry-level driver training (ELDT) and any truck driver who is about to gain his commercial driver’s license (CDL). After having learned trucker etiquette for flashing lights, it would be massive prevention for any car or small trailer to go underneath large trucks or for those who fall victim to rear-end crashes due to distracted driving. 

Cost-effective and easy to install and maintain:

Using blinking flash lights is a cost-effective and easy way to prevent truck accidents and save lives on the road. Flashing lights can be an inexpensive way to prevent rear-end collisions. Blinking flash lights to prevent truck accidents helps in improving brake time for other vehicles as they would be able to step on their brakes on time to prevent rear-end crashes by 10%-33%. 

What Does It Mean When A Trucker Flashes His Lights Behind You?

When you find a truck blinking lights on you, there might be many reasons. For example, they want to warn you about some overcoming hazards on the road. They might indicate to you the upcoming speed traps for which the trucks signal you with their lights to lessen your speed. 

Trucks might also want to indicate to you some objects on the road, such as animals, fire, or a blown tire on the road so that heavy vehicles and car crashes are avoided in time. What’s more? The truck might want to thank you if you have accommodated them in some way and made adjustments for them to let them pass, for instance. The truck blinking lights could be for any reason, from oncoming traffic or just staying alert out of concern for humanity, especially when you have a baby on board!

Now that you know what it means when a trucker flashes his lights behind you, let’s move on to the next important section.

Implementation of Blinking Flash Lights on Trucks

Various options are available for a truck to install lights for fulfilling their needs on the road. For instance, flashing LED lights along with warning lights, turn signals, brake lights, and strobe lights are a few of them. For identifying what lights would be most useful for you, you must be able to decide about the final choice that you have made for one of these lights at the time of installation. 

The brightness of the lights is also a prominent concern, as mentioned earlier, Several states prohibit drivers from using high beam lights on the highway because they strain their eyes. For keeping everyone safe on the road, the truck’s light brightness is an important factor. 

While installing these lights, the source of power for these lights should be kept in mind. Truck batteries are the main power source which should be practical and convenient enough not to use much of the truck’s battery all at once.   

While installing this cost-effective element on your truck, you should also consider the cost. The price of the flashing lights should be within your budget so that their durability justifies their price as emergency flashing lights are more prone to wear and tear too soon.

Conclusion

The use of blinking flash lights on trucks is a simple yet effective measure to prevent accidents on the road. By drawing attention to the truck and its movements, other drivers are better able to anticipate and react to the truck’s actions, reducing the risk of collisions. Additionally, the use of blinking flash lights may also improve the visibility of the truck in low light or adverse weather conditions. Overall, implementing this measure can help to make our roads safer for all drivers and prevent unnecessary accidents.