John Bullough of RPI's Lighting Research Center is seen in this 2015 picture. He was evaluating the potential for new lighting technologies and approaches to improve driving safety at night, including new car headlight systems. In New York, only white headlights are allowed on non-emergency vehicles. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)
Q: When did blue or green headlights become legal? I have seen these on numerous occasions and they are very disorienting. And while we’re on the subject, are super-bright LED light bars mounted on the front of cars permitted? They are absolutely blinding!
A: No color other than white is permitted under the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law, with the exception of approved emergency vehicles, according to Stephanie O’Neil, public information officer for Troop G of the State Police, which patrols the Capital Region.
Additionally, lights in excess of 32 candlepower are not allowed. Candlepower measures the intensity of light on a target — a lamp has a higher candlepower rating if the light is more tightly focused. Most LED light bars violate that rating, O’Neil said, and therefore can’t be used on roads.
Volunteer firefighters are allowed to use a blue light, if authorized by the chief of the fire department to which they belong. The light can only be used when engaged in an emergency operation. Similarly, volunteer ambulance members can use a green light during emergency operations, if authorized by the chief officer of their service.
Also, plows must use a light bar with amber or green light because they are considered hazard vehicles when engaged in ice and snow removal. However, plows cannot use the light while on any roadway (town, county or state), O’Neil said.
Q: Why does my car’s temperature display flash when the temperature reaches 37 degrees?
A: Many cars have this feature — it alerts drivers to the possibility that there may be ice on the roads. The display flashes at 37 degrees, and not the actual freezing point of water (32 degrees), because cool air sinks, so the ground may be cooler than the air passing over the car’s sensor.
The possibility of ice is even more likely on bridges, because unlike roads, bridges do not have anything surrounding them to retain heat and prevent ice.
CDTA seeking feedback for improvements: The Capital District Transportation Authority is conducting a survey of customers who use specific BusPlus Red Line stations in Schenectady to shape potential improvements to the stations and adjacent intersections for transit riders, pedestrians and others who use the corridor.
The survey is focused on Veeder/Nott, Steuben, Division, Woodlawn and Niskayuna stations and asks participants what would improve their experience at those stations. It is among the first steps of upgrades to the Red Line, which launched in 2011. The Red Line has the highest ridership and service frequency in the CDTA system. The first phase of the project also includes data collection and traffic analysis. Take the survey at https://projects.cdta.org/redlineupdate-phase1.
Have a question about transportation in the Capital Region? Email gettingthere@timesunion.com and include your name, town and phone number or tweet @abigail_rubel.
Abigail Rubel covers UAlbany men's and women's basketball and other high school, college and professional sports. She also writes the Getting There column answering reader questions and covering local transportation issues. Abigail previously reported for the Voice of America and New York Family magazine. She graduated from Columbia University in 2019. You can reach her at Abigail.Rubel@timesunion.com.