Guide to beacon colours for emergency and trade fleets

Beacon lights are essential in safety and warning systems, delivering immediate, high-visibility signals that grab attention in critical situations. From managing construction zones to directing traffic, these powerful lights deliver clear alerts in high-risk settings.

Importantly, each beacon colour serves a specific purpose, designed to convey different signals based on the situation.

With options including amber, blue, red, green, and magenta, these lights can also be customised with various flashing patterns for superior visibility.

In this guide, we’ll break down the beacon colour code, with insights into each shade’s meaning, best uses and key considerations. Keep reading to learn which hue is right for your fleet and why.
 

What is a beacon light?

A beacon light is a compact, circular warning lamp designed to emit highly visible signals. These lights come in a range of profile heights, including micro, low, medium and high, to suit different applications. Many beacon lights offer rotating or flashing light patterns, with a variety of options to match specific needs.

Beacons are often installed on vehicles and equipment, such as forklifts, ambulances, and police cars, to provide a clear warning and enhance visibility in their surroundings.

When buying a beacon light, it’s important to choose the right colour for your intended purpose. That way, you can ensure compliance with industry standards and safety on the job.
 

A word on coloured lenses and light sources

Importantly, the choice of lens and light source both impact light transmission.

Coloured lenses naturally reduce light output compared to clear domes, which allow nearly full light transmission. The degree of reduction depends on the lens colour and whether the light is LED or halogen.

Halogen lights tend to emit a warmer, yellowish tone, which can alter the perceived brightness and colour fidelity when paired with coloured lenses.

On the other hand, LEDs provide a consistent, white light that enhances colour clarity, making colours like amber, green, and blue appear more vivid and true-to-tone.

Notably, all lenses (except red) are typically backlit by white LEDs for maximum brightness and colour accuracy.

Understanding these differences will help you choose a beacon light that delivers optimal performance and visibility for your needs.
 

Amber beacon lights

Emergency level: Moderate

Application: Temporary warnings

Amber beacon lights are widely recognised for their bright, attention-grabbing glow, serving as a cautionary signal in situations that require heightened awareness or immediate action. This colour prompts observers to proceed with caution, slow down, or stay vigilant to potential hazards in their surroundings.

Typically, flashing amber beacons alert road users to temporary disruptions or risks in traffic flow. They can be mounted on stationary equipment or vehicles operating in high-risk or hazardous conditions.

These amber lights should only be activated when the vehicle is in a precarious position or operating in dangerous circumstances.

Once the risk is resolved, the light must be turned off to avoid confusion. It’s also important to note that amber beacon lights do not grant any special traffic privileges or right of way.

Vehicles and equipment using amber lights include traffic control equipment, garbage trucks, roadside assistance and tow vehicles, construction and mobile cranes, pilot vehicles for oversized loads, school buses, volunteer and private security vehicles, council rangers, street vendors, and delivery trucks.

Approximate light transmission reductions by bulb type:

  • LED: -13%
  • Halogen: -70%

 

Blue beacon lights

Emergency level: High

Application: Emergency response

Blue beacons, often paired with red flashing lights, signal that a vehicle is actively responding to an emergency. These lights serve as a clear warning to other road users, indicating the urgency of the situation.

When used independently, blue flashing beacons can designate an accident scene, mark an emergency site, escort a vehicle, or signal a closed vehicle formation.

Accompanied by a siren, these cool-coloured beacons signify critical operations such as life-saving rescues, addressing significant health risks, ensuring public safety, pursuing suspects, or protecting property. In these scenarios, all road users must give way immediately.

Given their importance, blue beacon lights are exclusively reserved for emergency services. Approved vehicles include police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, State Emergency Service (SES) vehicles, and traffic emergency patrol and command vehicles

Approximate light transmission reductions by bulb type:

  • LED: -90%
  • Halogen: -88%

 

Red beacon lights

Emergency level: High

Application: Life-threatening situations, like emergency rescues and system failures

Red beacon lights signify the highest level of urgency, indicating an emergency that demands immediate attention.

A red flashing light on a vehicle alerts road users that it is engaged in a critical operation, such as responding to fires, accidents, or other life-threatening situations.

This colour is reserved for non-government emergency and rescue services, including vehicles used for:

  • Mine rescues
  • Medical escorts
  • Red Cross operations
  • Other emergency tasks performed by authorised personnel

When activated, red beacons signal the need for others to stop or clear the way. Combined with flashing or rotating effects, the red light communicates a strong, nonverbal warning of potential danger.

Beyond vehicles, red beacons are crucial for maintaining safety in environments where risks are present. This colour is used to mark hazardous areas, warn of system failures, or indicate that values such as temperature or pressure have exceeded safe limits.

LED beacons with red lenses are often backlit with red LEDs, which means less light transmission loss compared to using white LEDs with a red lens. This makes them an unmistakable safety tool in vital situations.

Approximate light transmission reductions by bulb type:

  • LED: -17%
  • Halogen: -70%

 

Magenta beacon lights

Emergency level: Low

Application: Heavy vehicle escorts and enforcement

Magenta beacon lights are primarily used for heavy vehicle escorting and enforcement purposes. This purple flashing beacon is reserved exclusively for government departments in Australia.

When a magenta beacon is used, it signals the need for road users to maintain a safe distance from the passing vehicle.

Approximate light transmission reductions by bulb type:

  • LED: -35%
  • Halogen: -45%

 

Green beacon lights

Emergency level: Zero

Application: Indicates readiness for operation

Steady or flashing green beacon lights signify a safe and stable state that requires no urgent action. They ensure clear communication, offering reassurance that all systems are operating normally.

For example, this colour is often used to show that equipment or systems are ready for use or functioning correctly.

Approximate light transmission reductions by bulb type:

  • LED: -62%
  • Halogen: -85%

 

Discover a range of coloured beacon lights

Coloured beacon lights are an essential safety device, offering clear, attention-grabbing signals in all sorts of situations.

When it comes to different coloured beacons on vehicles, it’s important to make sure you choose the right shade for your operations.

Whether you’re looking for single-colour or dual-colour options, Australian Warning Systems has the perfect solution to meet your needs.

Browse our selection of beacon lights designed for emergency and utility vehicles. With Australia-wide delivery, we provide tailored solutions for industries and environments across the country.

Need more details on our flashing beacon colours? Request a quote online, call us on 03 9796 5880, or email info@warningsystems.com.au.