December 4, 2024 – Effects of Stage Lighting on Visual Comfort at Summer Festivals: A Study in Portugal – Strobe lights, in particular, are known to trigger disorientation or discomfort due to their rapid pulsating nature, which forces the eyes to repeatedly adjust to fluctuating light levels. For individuals predisposed to photosensitive epilepsy, strobe lights can trigger seizures
April 22, 2022 – Can behavioral interventions be too salient? Evidence from traffic safety messages. – Electronic signs are distracting and lead to more crashes.
February 7, 2022 – Visually sensitive seizures: An updated review by the Epilepsy Foundation – The abstract states that visually-induced seizures remain significant public health hazards so they warrant ongoing scientific and regulatory efforts and public education and that images with flashes brighter than 20 candelas/m2 at 3-60 (particularly 15-20) Hz occupying at least 10 to 25% of the visual field are a risk. This confirms that LED flashing lights will trigger epileptic seizures.
December, 2021 – Effects of Emergency Vehicle Lighting Characteristics on Driver Perception and Behavior – This study concludes that high intensity flashing lights put lives at risk.
January 28, 2021 – How Do Flashing Lights Trigger Epileptic Seizures? – This overview article mentions that contrast is a trigger, as is flash rate.
June 11, 2019 – Stroboscopic light effects during electronic dance music festivals and photosensitive epilepsy: a cohort study and case report The connection between strobe lights and seizures.
April 2, 2019 – Impacts of Flashing Emergency Lights This study concludes that strobing LED lights are dangerous.
January, 2018 – Police Warning Signals – This article in Police Chief Magazine discusses the dangers of overly intense strobing lights.
June 5, 2016 – Why Running Lights and Sirens is Dangerous – Flashing Lights and Sirens may save a few minutes, but does not change the outcome of the event. There is no value to using them, but there is harm.
June 1, 2016 – National Institutes of Health – Psychological Factors in Exceptional, Extreme and Torturous Environments This scientific research shows that strobing LED lights are instruments of torture.
2012 – Assessing the Photobiological Safety of LEDs – 2012 report by Underwriters Laboratories. – Basically, there are no eye safety regulations for LEDs.
October, 2010 – Ambulance Lights – Article on ambulance lights. “Fewer lights, flashing slower & less brightly are more effective.”
August 5, 2001 – Rear Lighting Configurations for Winter Maintenance Vehicles Strobing lights are less effective than static lights for safety.
December 27, 1955 – Siren, Light Removal Makes Police Unhappy – “Removal of the sirens and red lights has materially reduced accidents involving police cars rushing to other smashups or speeding to the scene of a crime.”