To my understanding, at least in airbus narrowbody jets, the emergency exit slides can be “locked” in a disabled position by placing a pin to lock a handle in place.
This feature is nice when on the ground to prevent accidental activation of the emergency slides during routine operations, but in the event of a emergency evacuation on the ground, that position would render that exit largely useless.
Hence why airlines/regulators require visible cues that should be a clear reminder that the slides are not armed.
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