What Are Green Flashing Lights Used For?

Green for go.

Green is the positive inspirational color that tells us to go. Crossing the road, moving in traffic, waiting for the computer to load, green screams go ahead, everything is ok and safe to proceed.

Traffic Lights

Green for go.

Traffic would soon come to a standstill without the universal traffic signals for stop and go. Green is go, amber beware or prepare and red stop. The Federal Highway Administration acknowledges the first electronic remote controlled traffic lights were invented by Garret A Morgan in 1923 in Detroit.

Aircraft Lights

Green on left, red on right.

A simple way to see which direction a plane is flying in the dark is to see which side the green flashing light is on. With the pilot facing forward the right wing tip has a red light and the left wing tip a green light. Aerospace.org explains this make it simpler for other pilots to see instantly which way a plane is flying.

Flashing Grren Lights on Vehicle

Flashing lights aid emergency vehicles.

Green lights are used in the United States to show a fire chief and in the United Kingdom to show a doctor on their way to an emergency. In Argentina and Australia green lights are for the ambulance service.

References

• Aircraft Lights and Beacons: Navigation
• An American Inventor: Garret A Morgan
• US Fire Administration: Emergency Vehicle Safety