Abstract: A right of way vehicle throws out a strobe light having pulses. The strobe light is picked up by the present control apparatus, which analyzes the pulses of the strobe light via an algorithm, and then sets off an alarm or warning device if the strobe light meets the conditions of the algorithm. The control apparatus includes a sensor component, a signal conditioner component, a microcontroller component, and an alarm or warning device component. The components may be housed as a package and located in the interior of a vehicle. The components may be housed separately or in separate packages. The separately housed components or separately housed packages may be located at various locations on or in the vehicle.