Vechcils - warning lights and beacons

[mawallace]

We all know that the police, fire service, and ambulances use flashing blues.

VOSA and Highway agency uses amber?

What other vehicles use warning lights? and what colours?

[morsing]

This is something I have often wondered - the use of amber flashing lights.

They're common and people who have them seem to love to flash people blind whenever they feel like it...

Are there actually any rules for use of them or who can have them?

[michael769]

Doctors registered with the General Medical Council can use a green one.

This is something I have often wondered - the use of amber flashing lights.

....

Are there actually any rules for use of them or who can have them?

Chapter and verse from the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 as amended

(2) No vehicle shall be fitted with a lamp which is capable of showing any light to the rear, other than a red light, except–

..............

(l)amber light from a warning beacon fitted to–

(i)a road clearance vehicle;

(ii)a vehicle constructed or adapted for the purpose of collecting refuse;

(iii)a breakdown vehicle;

(iv)a vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph or any trailer drawn by such a vehicle;

(v)a vehicle having an overall width (including any load) exceeding 2.9 m;

(vi)a vehicle used for the purposes of testing, maintaining, improving, cleansing or watering roads or for any purpose incidental to any such use;

(vii)a vehicle used for the purpose of inspecting, cleansing, maintaining, adjusting, renewing or installing any apparatus which is in, on, under or over a road, or for any purpose incidental to any such use;

(viii)a vehicle used for or in connection with any purpose for which it is authorised to be used on roads by an order under section 44 of the [Road Traffic] Act [1988 as amended];

(ix)a vehicle used for escort purposes.

(x)a vehicle used by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise for the purpose of testing fuels;

(xi)a vehicle used for the purpose of surveying;

(xii)a vehicle used for the removal or immobilisation of vehicles in exercise of a statutory power or duty;

17.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), no person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on an unrestricted dual-carriageway road any motor vehicle with four or more wheels having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph unless it or any trailer drawn by it is fitted with at least one warning beacon which–

(a)complies with Schedule 16, and

(b)is showing an amber light.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply in relation to–

(a)any motor vehicle first used before 1st January 1947; and

(b)any motor vehicle, or any trailer being drawn by it, to which paragraph (1) would otherwise apply, when that vehicle or trailer is on any carriageway of an unrestricted dual-carriageway road for the purpose only of crossing that carriageway in the quickest manner practicable in the circumstances.

No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on an unrestricted dual-carriageway road a vehicle which is required to be fitted with at least one warning beacon by regulation 17 unless every such beacon is kept lit.

2. Position–

Every warning beacon shall be so mounted on the vehicle that the centre of the lamp is at a height not less than 1200 mm above the ground.

3. Angles of visibility–

The light shown from at least one beacon (but not necessarily the same beacon) shall be visible from any point at a reasonable distance from the vehicle or any trailer being drawn by it.

11. Other requirements–

The light shown by any one warning beacon shall be displayed not less than 60 nor more than 240 equal times per minute and the intervals between each display of light shall be constant.

[michael769]

You can add 'purple' to the list. Funeral vehicles, never seen one used.

Thats' news to me.....

According to Sched 11 of RVLR the only permitted colours are:

6. Colour:

Blue, amber, green or yellow in accordance with Regulation 11

[Horse]

This is something I have often wondered - the use of amber flashing lights.

They're common and people who have them seem to love to flash people blind whenever they feel like it...

Are there actually any rules for use of them or who can have them?

For those of us who use 'amber' it's a nightmare. Most drivers are so used to seeing them, that they are virtually ignored. Our H&S are looking at using flashing reds at the rear. Use is debatable.

Mine are on full bright and if they dazzle a bit so be it. Maybe the idiot updating his facebook page might actually notice me. But having had some muppet drive in to the back of mine, full chevrons and beacons, I'm not taking any chances. He was drunk though

Who's 'our'? Because the use of flashing reds is restricted by law to emergency services and by a temporary exemption to the Traffic Officer service.

If you spend time at the roadside, this may be of interest:
http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge_co ... mplete.pdf

[michael769]

Mine are on full bright and if they dazzle a bit so be it.

I would suggest that having a half blinded driver passing close to you is not a desirable situation to be in.

You may want to consider the dangers of Target Fixation which can put vehicles with over bright warning lamps at a greater danger of collision, especially in the dark.

[MGF]

You can add 'purple' to the list. Funeral vehicles, never seen one used.

Thats' news to me.....

According to Sched 11 of RVLR the only permitted colours are:

6. Colour:

Blue, amber, green or yellow in accordance with Regulation 11

Actually used as opposed to lawfully used.

[Standard Dave]

Rear flashing reds are only allowed under law on police and HATO vehicles. Fire and Ambulance appear to have just added them without anyone noticing.

[Horse]

Mine are on full bright and if they dazzle a bit so be it.

I would suggest that having a half blinded driver passing close to you is not a desirable situation to be in.

You may want to consider the dangers of Target Fixation which can put vehicles with over bright warning lamps at a greater danger of collision, especially in the dark.

And greater risk to pedestrians in proximity to those vehicles. See the report I linked.

[jamei]

Are then any regulations governeming when flashing ambers fitted to appropriate vehicles are not to actually be turned on?

For example I often see breakdown vans or normally-long HGVs travelling at normal speeds with these on. It's kind of annoying because you are expecting them to be stationary or slow or abnormally long.

[Ancient]

Rear flashing reds are only allowed under law on police and HATO vehicles. Fire and Ambulance appear to have just added them without anyone noticing.

Used to be true up to about 2005, then the rear lights of bicycles stopped having to be "fixed" and are now allowed to be flashing (within limits). Three flashing reds on the back of mine during daylight (and still a few muppet drivers don't see me apparently) and two flashing one fixed on the 'bike (a further flashing on the hat) during the hours of darkness.

Edit: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005 ... le%20light

[playtent]

You can have what you want flashing but as the Police officer recently killed in Yorkshire shows, if your going to get hit, your going to get hit!

[Mr Cholmondeley-Warner]

Where do these threads come from? The identical question, with the identical spelling mistake, is doing the rounds on the RoADAR mailing list at the moment. We had lengthy discussions about this a few months ago and it pops up regularly. Perhaps we should have a sticky thread somewhere

[Standard Dave]

Are then any regulations governeming when flashing ambers fitted to appropriate vehicles are not to actually be turned on?

For example I often see breakdown vans or normally-long HGVs travelling at normal speeds with these on. It's kind of annoying because you are expecting them to be stationary or slow or abnormally long.

Dustbin lorries seem to be some of the worst offenders for this, I think they just leave them on at all times (like there seatbelts ).

[Slink_Pink]

Can anyone point me to the regs permitting the use of flashing red lights at the rear? I've looked at the original and trawled through the amendments I can find but I still can't see it. How does this fit in with regard to some vehicles sporting flashing brake lights under heavy braking (nicely demonstrated in the lane next to me this morning by a tailgating eejit)?