Nationwide, municipal leaders, engineers, and equipment manufacturers work to create solutions that keep drivers and pedestrians safe on the road. With road safety in mind, Monroe Truck Equipment added Air Blade Warning Lights to its product line. The Air Blade is a lighting system that increases visibility while clearing roads in dark, foggy, stormy, and other low-visibility environments.
PROPRIETARY AIR BLADE WARNING LIGHTS
Heavy precipitation, wind-blown snow, dust, fog, and smoke can hinder visibility. According to data from the US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, over 38,700 vehicle crashes occur in fog, annually. These crashes kill over 600 people and injure more than 16,300 people; and that’s just one of several low-visibility scenarios.
Monroe designed its proprietary air blade warning lights to combat dangerous low-visibility situations for the thousands of plow operators around the country who must clear roads and highways no matter what Mother Nature throws their way. The large external lights mount at the side of the snowplow. They emit a powerful amber or green light for increased visibility against the white, dense snow or fog.
Both green and amber LED lights are bright and extremely powerful. They are also more easily detectable for other drivers or pedestrians due to their high contrasting hues. In many states, these colored lights are only legally permitted for government vehicles. These vehicles include plow trucks as well as emergency vehicles, utility vehicles, and other municipal automobiles.
IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY
When visibility is difficult, the Air Blade Warning Lights help people properly navigate around the vehicle, avoiding snow apparatus. Extra visibility not only lets other people know a crew is on the road, it also helps them determine how close they are to the vehicle, and if they should slow down to put more distance between the vehicles.
DEPENDABLE & DURABLE
The flexible polyurethane circuit board is fully encapsulated for resistance against vibration, moisture, and corrosion. There are four LED lights per square inch. Further, the lights themselves are military-grade 6500k LED solid or flashing lights. Monroe uses a long-lasting 3M VHB™ adhesive backing that bonds more and more strongly over time and resists rain, sun, wind, heat, or cold damage while sealing out water and dirt.
EASY INSTALLATION
Monroe’s Air Blade Warning Lights are installed using a cured adhesive that strengthens over time. This eliminates bolts, screws, or rivets that can loosen, rattle, or cause an area of corrosion.
STANDARD FEATURES
- Military-grade 6500k LED solid or flashing light for multiple applications
- Four LED lights per square inch
- Flexible polyurethane circuit board is fully encapsulated for vibration, moisture, and corrosion resistance
- Long-lasting 3M VHB™ adhesive backing
- 2 AMP draw per light
- Two wire, 18GA cable connection
- Standard air blade—960 lumens
- Tapered air blade—2,380 lumens
STAYING SAFE IN LOW VISIBILITY ENVIRONMENTS
Slow Down
Driving slowly in times of reduced visibility is incredibly important for operator safety as well as the safety of any other drivers or pedestrians. Slower driving gives ample opportunity to react to hazards as well as merging vehicles, traffic, and other obstacles.
Avoid High Beams
It may seem like a good idea to use high beams, however low beams are actually more effective in fog, snow, and other low-vis situations. High beams shine directly into the fog or precipitation, which then, bounces the bright light back into the driver’s field of vision, making it even harder to see what’s ahead.
Signal Early and Often
Operators use signals (turn signals, hazard lights) to communicate with other drivers. There is no better time to increase that communication than in low-visibility environments. Signal well before merging or turning, and use hazard lights when other vehicles need to keep an increased distance from the vehicle in case of emergencies.
Find out more, visit www.municipal.monroetruck.com.
