Different color schemes indicate the specific type of emergency services present. Blue/red, blue/blue, and blue/white variations indicate law enforcement, while red/white, red/red, and red/amber variations indicate fire and rescue. Law enforcement and fire/rescue teams must reach an incident as quickly as possible, so they use LED flashing lights in colors like red, blue, and white, which are easily visible and eye-catching, even in inclement weather, from a distance, or at night. These colors indicate an emergency situation and allow other emergency response teams to easily find the location of an incident, as well as indicating to non-emergency personnel that an emergency situation is underway and to allow room for the appropriate response teams.

Towing and construction vehicles utilize amber/white, amber/amber, and white/white lights. While perhaps not as eye catching as red and blue used by police and fire response teams, amber strobe lights advise motorists that while it may not be an emergency situation, they should exercise caution as they proceed through the area. This is particularly important for teams and individuals that often work roadside or near traffic, such as construction crews and towing. Less commonly seen are green/amber lights, generally used by security vehicles. The presence of a security vehicle doesn’t necessarily indicate an emergency, but green and amber lights still provide visibility for the vehicle, both in full daylight and after dark.