Do drunk people get hypnotized by flashers?

[Garandman]

Target fixation is an attentional phenomenon observed in humans in which an individual becomes so focused on an observed object that their awareness of hazards or obstacles diminishes.

This is a common phenomena, and race drivers and motorcyclists are trained about "Visual habits," because "Your eyes lead you to the scene of the crash."

Some LEA park their cars at an angle. The idea is that the visual distance between the tail lights will change as cars approach, and they will realize it's stationary. Not sure how much it helps but it sure doesn't hurt.

 

[crazyal]

I don't know about drunks and flashers but these new LED blue lights on cop cars are painful to the eyes. I actually have to look away at times. I find LED lighting very harsh to begin with, even blue LED Christmas lights when it's the only color and they are bunched together hurts. Not sure what the intent was but I figure that getting people to look away is probably not it.

 

[arrow]

Forget about him, How's his tractor??? :laughing:

Actually that was the first question I asked. The car hit his tires at slow speed. That and the drawbar sticking out. One of the 3 pts sways got a little tweak but easily bent back. He had a seatbelt on which I never do but is making me think to do so. I'm wondering what could have happened if he did not, even with the light tap he sustained. 3 years ago an acquaintance died on his motorcycle. He was stopped and sustained a light hit from the motorist in back of him (also tipsy). The bike gently started going over. Hit his head on the curbing. No helmet. I wonder if we should be wearing helmets while operating open station tractors on the street? I hate it when one question leads to another.

 

[arrow]

I don't know about drunks and flashers but these new LED blue lights on cop cars are painful to the eyes. I actually have to look away at times. I find LED lighting very harsh to begin with, even blue LED Christmas lights when it's the only color and they are bunched together hurts. Not sure what the intent was but I figure that getting people to look away is probably not it.

Perhaps that 's the new point: Have lights so bright drunks look away and hit something else.

 

[buickanddeere]

Rows of trees planted along the road can cause strobbing which will "stun" some people. Depending on the tree spacing and the velocity of the vehicle.

 

[joefromga]

Cop's that take their cars home usually compete to see how many lights they can put on their cars. They think it's funny and then blame the drivers when they are ran over.

The new led blue lights would be plenty with ONE light on top. But that would hurt their ego and "authority".

 

[Bird]

Cop's that take their cars home usually compete to see how many lights they can put on their cars. They think it's funny and then blame the drivers when they are ran over.

The new led blue lights would be plenty with ONE light on top. But that would hurt their ego and "authority".

Now that's a new one to me (if it's true); never knew of officers who added lights themselves.:laughing: Whether a home storage car or not, I thought they all had lights specified by their departments.

 

[joefromga]

I'm sure it depends on the state and locality but here all the smaller departments have take home cars and the officers buy their own lights and add them. (They come with basic bars already) Some are so lit up you'd think it was ten cars from a mile away. Blue, yellow, white with directional, corners, tag, bar, rear deck, visors, takedowns, alleys, trunk top, tail, wig wags, and move overs.
I've installed quite a few myself with cop buddies. It's become a pissing contest for them.
But with the leds it's just too easy and they are so bright it's distracting. Even tow trucks now have tons of yellows everywhere.

On the front I can see a need because they are warning you and need to get attention. But on the rear it's not as necessary. One blue led strobe can be seen from a mile away.

 

[Furu]

There is a physiological effect in which the frequency (color) of the strobe lights that were converted to back many decades ago actually increase to the human eye the intensity on the retina. It is why green and blue lights were converted to use in low light situations, instead of the red that was used in WW2 and post period, as the human eye can see/read/view under less power/intensity. Thus when you have a high power blue or green light it is harder on the eye than the red at the same power level.

With Law Enforcement conversion to strobes and to blue and red instead of just the red old style incandescent, the eye is "dazzled" much more strongly that with the old red bubble gum lights. The change while making the LEO vehicle much more visible at much longer ranges has actually decreased the safety of those officers due to the "dazzle" effect. In addition, as has been alluded to above, the target fixation symptoms are enhanced/increased with the brighter higher intensity strobes. We all are drawn to the fixed flashing points of light. While sober we recognize this more readily and can compensate somewhat better than those that are under the influence.

I consider the conversion to high intensity strobes and blue ones to boot a hazard to our hardworking LEO's.

 

[Redneck in training]

They should have an arrow effect on the light bar to point which way you should go around. That way you will see from distance that you should change lane.