Courtesy Lights

Courtesy Lights are used to request right-of-way primarily by volunteer or call firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to expedite their drive in their privately owned vehicles, to their firehouse or base. Courtesy lights do not allow the user to disobey traffic laws such as speed limit, stop signs or stop lights. Courtesy lights should not be confused with emergency warning lights used in conjunction with audible warning systems (sirens) for emergency vehicles such as police cars, fire apparatus and ambulances, nor should they be confused with warning lights as used by tow-trucks, snow-plows, construction vehicles and school buses to increase awareness especially when moving slowly or stopped in the roadway.

The term is also used to refer to the internal car light that comes on automatically when a door is opened.