Delaware Emergency Vehicle Light State Statutes

It is critical that emergency vehicles have ways of warning people of their on-road presence. All emergency vehicles will be using sirens. All emergency vehicles must have warning lights. The warning lights can vary in form and color depending on the state. State statutes detail the specific requirements within each State for emergency vehicles. These are the Delaware rules and regulations as set out in State Statute 4106.

Police Lights

In Delaware, emergency vehicle light rules are denoted in Title 21 Section 43 subchapter Lights. A police officer or police car is required to use flashing lights according to state statute 21:4348. The flashing headlights, however, may only be used if the vehicle responds to an emergency.

The flashing white and blue police lights can be mounted on top of the vehicles driven by a police officer according to state statute 21:4356. That said, fire-police officers can only use them.

If a police car is used at the site of a disaster as a command post, rotating green strobe lights can be placed atop the car. In addition, police must use red emergency lights. This includes every state-owned police vehicle including cruisers and rigs. If the car responds to an emergency or flags a person down, it must have red emergency lights on it.

Firetruck Lights

Pursuant to state statute 21:4348(d)(3), any motor vehicle currently used by a firefighter may have flashing headlights installed. These flashing headlights should only be used as a first responder if the vehicle is en route to an emergency.

State statute 21:4356(a) outlines the vehicle guidelines used by the fire officials. In normal headlamps a white light may be installed and used to generate the flashing signals.

Statute 21:4356(b) states that it is permissible for a fire truck or other vehicle owned by a fire company to have blue and red strobe lights as warning. Alternatively, they may have blinkered white, red, or blue lights combined. Whether any of these colors must be used is not specific to the statute but at least one warning light must be placed on a vehicle owned by a fire company.

Similar to police vehicles, a flashing green light could be mounted on top if a firetruck is being used as a command center for a disaster or emergency scene.

Volunteer Firefighter Lights

They may have flashing headlights installed in their private vehicle when a volunteer firefighter has been designated as a first responder. Only when the firefighter is en route to an emergency scene should those white lights be activated. This permission is outlined in Statute 21:4348(d)(3), section “Additional Lighting Equipment.”

The statute makes no provision for the use of blue or red emergency lights by voluntary firefighters. Similarly, private vehicles are not eligible for their warning signals to be mounted above the vehicle. The white flashing headlamps have to be enough, instead.

Ambulance Lights

If an emergency response technician owns a vehicle privately but is authorized as a first responder, they may have white flashing headlights installed in their vehicle. This is governed by state statute 21:4348(d)(3), the same statute which covers volunteer firefighter vehicles.

Ambulances must be equipped with flashing red LED lights according to state statute 21:4134(b). They may also use colors that flash blue and white. An ambulance is allowed to use some combination of red, blue, and white colours; flashing red lights are only required by law.

Tow Truck Lights

Tow trucks must have two reflectors according to state statute 21:4338(6). Each side of the truck will have one reflector. If the vehicle being loaded obscures the brake lights of the tow truck, then it can install an additional stop light.

Tow trucks are authorized to use flashing amber and white lights to warn people about their presence according to state statute 21:4134(b). Also, they can use either flashing amber or white lights.

Construction Vehicle Lights

The permitted lights depend on the type of vehicle being driven and the potential load it carries. If the load of the vehicle extends at least four feet beyond the body of the vehicle, then red lanterns must be mounted on the sides and rear of the load, in accordance with state statute 21:4343(a).

Otherwise construction vehicles must follow the same rules as standard motor vehicles. They must have at least one white headlamp visible from at least 500 feet away. In addition, two lamps showing red lights have to be visible from at least 500 feet to the rear of the vehicle.

Utility Vehicle Lights

Statute 21:4134(b) states that flashing white, amber, or a combination of white and amber lights may be used by public utilities to warn drivers about their presence. The same rules apply to utility vehicles as tow trucks.

Pilot Vehicle Lights

The Delaware Department of Transportation issued a thirty-nine-page PDF outlining the pilot vehicle rules and regulations. Pilot vehicles must carry loads that were well marked during daytime and lighted at night.

Pilot vehicles have to use warning flags on their cargoes and vehicles during daylight hours. These flags must be either orange or red, and at least eighteen inches square. Furthermore, if a pilot vehicle escorts a load, it must always keep its headlamps

Delaware doesn’t require pilot vehicles to mount lights, but a pilot vehicle can mount a flashing amber light at the vehicle’s front and back. Throughout bright daylight hours, this light should be clear within at least 1,000 feet. If a driver opts to use warning lights, these should be mounted on the top of the car.

A vehicle could use a light warning bar which has at least four lights. All the lights have to be visible from at least 1000 feet away.

Security Vehicle Lights

Under Delaware state laws, Security Vehicle Lights Security vehicles are not considered as emergency vehicles. There are no laws calling for special emergency alerts from the security vehicles. Alternatively, the headlight standards for all motor vehicles must apply to these vehicles. We must have at least one white headlamp, and two red brake lights at least.

For more information on what lights are available to you, please call your State Highway Patrol office at: 302-739-5901 * Please note that these numbers are what we can currently find, and the numbers may have changed since this post.