Why do emergency services have the word written backwards on the front?

Question

Now, I know it's so they show up the right way around in the rear-view, but why?

An ambulance or a fire engine aren't exactly hard to recognise, why does it need to be written on the front?

I only thought of this today..

Thank ya!

Ok, READ THE DETAILS

I know it's so it shows up in the rear-view, that's why I said it on the first line.

Answer 1

Let me give a shot at this, and it actually happened to me. Most of us already know why they have those letters in reverse. But the reason why they STILL have to put that, even if its obvious that there are sirens and bells ringing is that some of us..

Might be on the phone or have our radios on high. That takes away the "hearing it coming" aspect.

Second, the letters are painted red, because red is the color that one can distinguish in as many scenarios. When babies are born, the first three "colors" (and I use that term loosely since the first 2 aren't exactly colors) are black (presence of all colors), white (absence of all color), and RED. Its the way our brain works, longest wavelength, and easiest to distinguish. But... There's no law on cars and trucks that only emergency service vehicles can have this particular color, such as red, meaning others may use that color too.

Now, why have the word there? Because of how your rear view mirror can be angled, and it can only be angled anywhere between 2 ways: from horizontal (with a view parallel to the road) up to a point about, oh maybe 10-20 degrees up. Anything below horizontal would end up giving you a view of the backseat or the rear deck, and anything above that will give you a view of the ceiling. Now with these 2 possible views, anything that has an angle positioned above horizontal would give you a view of the lights whirling, or even if you're not looking, the lights will reflect on the rear view mirror, at a blinking fashion, which will make you notice it (again, red being easy to distinguish). Just for those wondering why police cars also use blue, well blue is is the next one, with the second longest wavelength (with green being the shortest wavelength)

Finally, just in case you don't hear the bells and whistles, or don't notice that huge red vehicle hurtling towards you, or that red flashing light doesn't bounce off the rear view mirror alerting you, the last possible situation is that your mirror would at least be angled horizontal which would give you a view of the front of the truck and, quite possibliy, without the view of the lights on top. Now hopefully, that would register in your mind that an ambulance is right behind you, and if spelled the right way, you won't have to spend more time to determine what that word is.

Answer 2

Words Written Backwards

Answer 3

You answered your own question, in a way. Yes, it shows up in the rear-view mirror, but it's an extra-way to get the message across to the driver who might not be paying attention. Besides, if the emergency vehicle is right on your tail, it could be tough to tell what type of emergency vehicle it is.

Answer 4

HaHa!:D I used to ask this question to, and I was always got the answer about being able to see it in your rearview mirror of your vehical. And your right, an ambulance for say, isnt an easy thing to miss, but theres many other reasons. For a tall person in a car, you are able to see the the letters first this way in the mirror. Also, you are able to see the letters first, then the oncoming vehical becasue of the white letters. The farther away you are able to see the ambulance or fire truck, th faster you are able to get the heck out of the way!! LOL
If you do not like any of the answers, you could always ask your local fire/ambulance department!!:)
Gracie D

Answer 5

The official reason is to further identify the vehicle to drivers ahead of it, especially when it may not be running under Code 3 (lights/sirens). Of course, the real reason is to confuse pedestrians crossing in front of the vehicle, so they stop and stare, and the ambulance can drum up a little more business on slow days, while being the first to arrive at the accident :).

Answer 6

This is so the drivers who are in front of any Emergency vehicle can read what type of Emergency vehicle is approaching them from behind in their rear-view mirrors...... Hope this helps...

Answer 7

So many newer cars are sound proof. I saw a Dateline special on that issue once...it's for the oblivious people to see in their rear view mirrors...

Answer 8

this is for all those abnoxious people who insist on having their $%#@$ sound systems so $%#@#$ loud that they can't hear the sirens, when they look in their rear view mirror and see an abulance tailgaiting them, they might be inclined to get the heck out of the way, assuming of course that they can read.

Answer 9

so that people who are not paying attention to the sirens/lights can see that it is an emergency vehicle with a quick glance in the rear view.

Answer 10

ambulances have the word "ambulance" written backwards across their hood, so that drivers of vehicles in front of them can read the word in their rear-view mirror.