Blackout control system

Abstract

An improved blackout control system located within the passenger compartment allows the driver to alter the normal and emergency lighting features of the vehicle. The blackout control system comprises an illuminated control panel unit modified by harness and control units which are attached to the lighting system of a conventional emergency vehicle. Three emergency 'Red' switches are provided as an improvement on the control panel. A fourth blackout switch is provided on the panel which disables the brake and backup lights of the vehicle. A fifth switch for blacking out the tail lights, parking and/or corner lights is provided. A sixth sneak light switch is provided to activate a hooded sneak light located in front of the vehicle which may be used to provide less lighting in front of the vehicle than the normal horizontally disposed headlights. Other modifications are: (1) reduction of the switch panel and switch illumination for daytime, nighttime or blackout driving; (2) safety reset of blacked out lighting; (3) interior dome light extinguished while the red lights are on; and optional flashing features of emergency lights in the blackout system including the substitution of turn signal lights in smaller unmarked vehicles for the red grill lights of marked squad cars. Bypass plug-in units are provided for inactivating the blackout control system without requiring the removal of the blackout control system harness from a vehicle.