In terms of passenger safety, what key function does emergency lighting serve?

Emergency lighting plays a crucial role in passenger safety by providing illumination during a blackout. In situations where the regular power supply fails, the absence of light can lead to confusion, panic, and potentially dangerous situations for passengers inside an elevator. Emergency lighting activates automatically during power loss, ensuring that individuals can see their surroundings, identify exits, and navigate safely out of the elevator. This illumination not only aids in maintaining calm but also enhances visibility, crucially reducing the risk of accidents or injuries during emergencies.

The other choices do touch on important aspects of safety, but they do not encapsulate the primary function of emergency lighting as effectively. For instance, while faster exits or locating the emergency exit are certainly important, those actions are contingent on visibility being achieved first, which is directly facilitated by emergency lighting. Similarly, signaling when the elevator is operational does not directly contribute to safety in dark conditions, as it does not aid in navigating or ensuring safe passage during a blackout.