Michigan State PD and their "Unity Light"

[xfirefighter484x 234]

http://youtu.be/VuU9I1MMuzE

http://www.elightbars.org/f35/new-michigan-state-police-package-940/

http://www.elightbars.org/f35/2010-michigan-state-police-11089/

http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1574-228581--,00.html

[x129K 1,393]

More from Google Images...pretty slick set ups.

[xfirefighter484x 234]

http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1574-228581--,00.html

From the link above, it discusses how as the old rotators (that they recycle from car to car) develop internal issues, such as rotators going bad, and the lights are no longer produced, they are upgrading the interiors to LED's (as can be seen in the article and a couple of the YouTube videos posted).

And is it just me, or does that MSP 'Vette look photoshopped?

[firedude 985]

Old:

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I think this is more tradition than anything else. IMO, more lighting may be needed, especially with Michigan winters.

[FFEMT150 214]

Old:

New:

I think this is more tradition than anything else. IMO, more lighting may be needed, especially with Michigan winters.

Pretty cool find guys... Seems alittle out dated to me... maybe a safety issue but i wont get into that here. Again, cool find.

[grumpyff 1,159]

IIRC the light on the hood is illuminated. Most cars have additional lights on the rear deck. The cars are noticeable, and do not blind the crap out of other drivers on the road. Sometimes less is more. I will be out in the Michigan area in the next few weeks so I will try to get some photos

[xfirefighter484x 234]

IIRC the light on the hood is illuminated. Most cars have additional lights on the rear deck. The cars are noticeable, and do not blind the crap out of other drivers on the road. Sometimes less is more. I will be out in the Michigan area in the next few weeks so I will try to get some photos

Kurt, you are correct, the 'plaque', if you will, on the hood is in fact illuminated. I agree that less can be more. I just felt that some of the vehicles of theirs I had seen were a little less than noticeable, but those were a couple years ago.

[FDNY 10-75 640]

I will add my .02 - Michigan and Florida Highway Patrol(s) have both conducted numerous studies over the years and most of the data shows that less lights are much safer than more.

One study went as far as showing that the safest way to conduct a traffic stop was with no auxiliary lights and just the four way flashers on when the vehicle is out of traffic.

Michigan SP also saves their citizens a ton of money by not spending loads of cash on unnecessary lights.

[INIT915 1,119]

I will add my .02 - Michigan and Florida Highway Patrol(s) have both conducted numerous studies over the years and most of the data shows that less lights are much safer than more.

One study went as far as showing that the safest way to conduct a traffic stop was with no auxiliary lights and just the four way flashers on when the vehicle is out of traffic.

Michigan SP also saves their citizens a ton of money by not spending loads of cash on unnecessary lights.

Links to these studies?

[IzzyEng4 427]

Though the old "gumball machines" seem outdated, they still do the job better than some of the newer style lights.

What's the old saying? Keep it simple, stupid! And in actuality, simplicity is always better.

[JohnnyOV 2]

Links to these studies?

Florida -http://www.theiacp.org/About/Governance/Committees/LawEnforcementStopsandSafetyLESS/WhatsNew/tabid/380/Default.aspx?id=545&v=1 - March 2004

[JohnnyOV 2]

I will add my .02 - Michigan and Florida Highway Patrol(s) have both conducted numerous studies over the years and most of the data shows that less lights are much safer than more.

One study went as far as showing that the safest way to conduct a traffic stop was with no auxiliary lights and just the four way flashers on when the vehicle is out of traffic.

Michigan SP also saves their citizens a ton of money by not spending loads of cash on unnecessary lights.

THe FLHP also changes patters between red during the day, and blue at night, depending on the ambient light when the emergency lights are activated. Truly a unique design, and one that takes human factors into total consideration.

[INIT915 1,119]

Florida -http://www.theiacp.org/About/Governance/Committees/LawEnforcementStopsandSafetyLESS/WhatsNew/tabid/380/Default.aspx?id=545&v=1 - March 2004

Thanks for the link. There is no clear summary in this report. Does the report actually conclude that "less is safer than more?" (I'm not saying it does or doesn't, I'm just curious if anyone has located it.)

[sfrd18 360]

Very interesting. Just goes to show you that it doesn't have to be fancy to do the job right.

[MoFire390 118]

my wife and i travel to MI on a regular basis. because she is from there. traveling US 23 we see alot of the state troopers. i believe about 60% of the state police fleet is updated with the new LED set up. looks pretty sharp. its kinda funny looking at first but when u acutally see it in use it grabs ur attention. the state police are the only ones that use the "gumball". the towns and counties use LED light bars and ive seen alot of the counties withe the vector LED bar.

[MoFire390 118]

http://www.michigan....28581--,00.html

From the link above, it discusses how as the old rotators (that they recycle from car to car) develop internal issues, such as rotators going bad, and the lights are no longer produced, they are upgrading the interiors to LED's (as can be seen in the article and a couple of the YouTube videos posted).

And is it just me, or does that MSP 'Vette look photoshopped?

no MSP does have the vette. usually seen in brooklyn Mi near Michigan International Speedway during race week. they use it as their public relations unit. as well as their chase car.

[Monty 35]

Thanks for the link. There is no clear summary in this report. Does the report actually conclude that "less is safer than more?" (I'm not saying it does or doesn't, I'm just curious if anyone has located it.)

I skimmed the document - I don't see it saying as much. It does have some conclusions based on various papers and research they carried out. Interestingly there's a lighting research group at RPI that provided some information.

• Some lighting patterns cause drivers to perceive the vehicle is moving, even when stationary
  
• Blue is more visible at night and red during the day
  
• It does mention the negatives of too much lighting
  
• Amber (generally) washes out blues and reds
  

The FHP ended up working with Code 3 to design a light bar for them based on the work in this paper. Some of the interesting things it did are:

• Have a stationary mode that kicks in when the car is put in park which changes the flashing mode (to a slower more synchronized pattern)
  
• Has a photo cell that switches between mostly red and mostly blue based on ambient light
  
• Has an override so that LEO's can force red in cases of smoke or fog where red penetrates better than blue
  
• Mounted a 'rectangular arrowstick' in the rear window of the cruiser
  

Interestingly it seems that the 'Javelin' that Code 3 has is no longer available so I don't know if FHP have replaced this with something similar or have gone away from this approach, looking online I couldn't tell.

A lot of the ideas seemed to make sense. I would agree that you need different lighting patterns while responding versus being stationary at the scene. I think NFPA has something along these lines with flashing white lights? I know sitting at a scene with the hi-beams flashing away is really unproductive and annoying - but drivers seem to be reluctant to turn off some of those fancy (and not so fancy) lights .....

[INIT915 1,119]

I skimmed the document - I don't see it saying as much. It does have some conclusions based on various papers and research they carried out. Interestingly there's a lighting research group at RPI that provided some information.

• Some lighting patterns cause drivers to perceive the vehicle is moving, even when stationary
  
• Blue is more visible at night and red during the day
  
• It does mention the negatives of too much lighting
  
• Amber (generally) washes out blues and reds
  

The FHP ended up working with Code 3 to design a light bar for them based on the work in this paper. Some of the interesting things it did are:

• Have a stationary mode that kicks in when the car is put in park which changes the flashing mode (to a slower more synchronized pattern)
  
• Has a photo cell that switches between mostly red and mostly blue based on ambient light
  
• Has an override so that LEO's can force red in cases of smoke or fog where red penetrates better than blue
  
• Mounted a 'rectangular arrowstick' in the rear window of the cruiser
  

Interestingly it seems that the 'Javelin' that Code 3 has is no longer available so I don't know if FHP have replaced this with something similar or have gone away from this approach, looking online I couldn't tell.

A lot of the ideas seemed to make sense. I would agree that you need different lighting patterns while responding versus being stationary at the scene. I think NFPA has something along these lines with flashing white lights? I know sitting at a scene with the hi-beams flashing away is really unproductive and annoying - but drivers seem to be reluctant to turn off some of those fancy (and not so fancy) lights .....

And I would tend to agree with you. That's what prompted my curiosity. I was trying to find the nexus between the original hypothesis and this report. I couldn't really find any at all.

[FDNY 10-75 640]

FLHP Study with photos

http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/articlearchive/details.aspx?ID=377

SAE Study regarding visibility

http://www.sae.org/standardsdev/tsb/cooperative/nblighting.pdf

SAE Study - Color & Intensity

http://www.sae.org/standardsdev/tsb/cooperative/warninglamp0810.pdf

An article by Retired NYSP EVOC Instructor Robert J. Faugh that Cites the Studies I am still looking for that show slicktop vehicles and vehicles with less lights are safer (when stopped).

http://70.86.182.34/~police/article145.htm

Firefighter version for firehouse.com - http://www.firehouse.com/node/42015

Another article that cites the same

http://www.jpmolnar.com/uploads/LOM_MARCH_08-LR.pdf

Moth effect

http://firechief.com/health-safety/ar/firefighting_highway_hypnosis_may/

Another on the moth effect

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2011/01/11/news/8650789.txt

Safely configuring emergency vehicles

http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/articlearchive/details.aspx?ID=207396

NAoED article

http://www.emergencydispatch.org/articles/warningsystems1.htm

A previously closed thread

Reflectivity study

http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/fa_323.pdf

I will find the study I am looking for and post it when I do. Less is more when stopped. Be seen, be safe.

[adt12 0]

FLHP Study with photos

http://www.hendonpub...ils.aspx?ID=377

SAE Study regarding visibility

http://www.sae.org/s.../nblighting.pdf

SAE Study - Color & Intensity

http://www.sae.org/s...inglamp0810.pdf

An article by Retired NYSP EVOC Instructor Robert J. Faugh that Cites the Studies I am still looking for that show slicktop vehicles and vehicles with less lights are safer (when stopped).

http://70.86.182.34/.../article145.htm

Firefighter version for firehouse.com - http://www.firehouse.com/node/42015

Another article that cites the same

http://www.jpmolnar....MARCH_08-LR.pdf

Moth effect

http://firechief.com...y_hypnosis_may/

Another on the moth effect

http://www.thesunchr...ews/8650789.txt

Safely configuring emergency vehicles

http://www.hendonpub....aspx?ID=207396

NAoED article

http://www.emergency...ingsystems1.htm

A previously closed thread

http://www.emtbravo....e-is-better-no/

Reflectivity study

http://www.usfa.dhs....ions/fa_323.pdf

I will find the study I am looking for and post it when I do. Less is more when stopped. Be seen, be safe.

I would agree that less is more when you are stopped. In the NYSP we have a low power option on our LED light bars or we just use the wig wag option or the rear deck arrow stick. But I work a complaint station and being seen is key when responding to a call and I don't see that happening with an old gumball. But then again maybe Michigan SP does only highway patrol so it may suffice there. But I know that now it is hard to make people see me and that is which a modern light bar and siren combination.

[COH Bulldog 82]

I love the MSP lights, but I am originally from Michigan. There was allegedly a study out years ago that reported those lights are more aerodynamic than a light bar. So they kept those lights.

[jr51070 7]

Great links to all the studies. I do not agree though, and that is just me. A single red rotating light just, to me, does not stand out enough with all the other red lights out there, especially tail and brakelights. I think the new combination of red and blue rear facing, in NY, hes been a huge improvement in safety and visibility, along with tailight and rear window strobes. Again, just my opinion. Howver, I do agree that the new lights and equipment can quickly get expensive.

[ny10570 745]

Great links to all the studies. I do not agree though, and that is just me. A single red rotating light just, to me, does not stand out enough with all the other red lights out there, especially tail and brakelights. I think the new combination of red and blue rear facing, in NY, hes been a huge improvement in safety and visibility, along with tailight and rear window strobes. Again, just my opinion. Howver, I do agree that the new lights and equipment can quickly get expensive.

There's no doubt that more lights and the blue lights are more visible. The issue is that at some point more visibility is not helpful and actually harmful.

[COH Bulldog 82]

There's no doubt that more lights and the blue lights are more visible. The issue is that at some point more visibility is not helpful and actually harmful.

Good point about the "harmful" aspect. I have seen some emergency vehicles with way too many new lights that are blinding at night.