A vehicle lighting system is provided primarily for use with emergency response vehicles. The lighting system preferably includes a planar plate mounted to one of the horizontal surfaces of a vehicle. A luminescent planar sheet is constructed to provide illuminated alphanumeric characters affixed upon the planar plate so as to illuminate upwardly so as to be seen from the air. Preferably the luminescent planar sheet can selectively produce visible light, or infrared light, or both. The vehicle lighting system also includes a light bar affixed to the planar plate. The light bar is positioned to illuminate primarily horizontally so as to be seen by those on the ground. Preferably, the luminescent planar sheets are connected by wiring to the light bar so that luminescent planar sheet obtains power from the light bar.