F.A.O our nice boys in blue

[gtomo2]

I have a set or flashing strobe lights that you fit inside your vehicle lights. now i want to fit them in the rear bumper indcators and in the rear fog lights so i have a stobe effect flashing the amber then red then amber. I cant find any info to say if a flashin red light is legel or not. They will be used when the disco is not moving for breckdown and recovery work. I know the highways guys use amber and red flashing lights as well as the police. But was wondering what the legel side of it is as they wont be used on the move.
If its a bit of a grey area just your advise would be good.
Thanks

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

Hmm, an interesting question, which after giving consideration to and after consulting great books on the matter,............I still don't have a clue what the answer is. :? I shall try to find out.

[gtomo2]

Thank you kind sir

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

I had a search of the 'Interweb' under the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, and came up with this.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_3.htm#(Tii)i3lampshowsteadylight

From what I can work out, it would appear to be a no no for reds to be used, unless you are an emergency vehicle or recovery vehicle. I have a feeling that if a recovery vehicle, it would have to be registered as such.
The key point is the bit at the beginning that says, 'vehicle for use on the road'.

I will try and find a Traffic Bod and see what they say.

Traffic work is not my forte. I find all the construction and use rules very difficult to understand. Also, I'm not prepared to sell my soul to the Devil!

[gtomo2]

Thanks for that. And yea i would say its looking like a no no for the red light.

[Bush Tucker Man]

Unless you happen to 'be attended upon' by a Traffic Cop who's having a really bad day, surely he/she will treat it with discretion & the view that you're trying to be as visible as possible?*
So, mounted amber strobes look to be feasible?

We have a couple of Consultants who have green strobe lights fitted, one even has (I believe) blue strobes on her ('company') car but she doubles as the Medical Director of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service - & thus it is (in essence) an unmarked Rapid Response Vehicle



*Just so long as you're not pretending to be something you're not (AA, RAC, etc....)

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

Unless you happen to 'be attended upon' by a Traffic Cop who's having a really bad day, surely he/she will treat it with discretion & the view that you're trying to be as visible as possible?*
So, mounted amber strobes look to be feasible?


*Just so long as you're not pretending to be something you're not (AA, RAC, etc....)

I would tend to agree, but in the worst case scenario with a lot of 'what ifs' thrown in, such as what if a prang was to occur, and someone says "I saw red lights flashing on that car", the Police examine the vehicle and find the lights fitted, the insurance would be invalid. It comes back to the thread that was on here some time back. Undeclared/non legit mods cause all manner of problems
Not wishing to put a dampener on things, but I'd hate to see someone picked up for something like that.
If you are within the law, you can't be picked up.

[Llanigraham]

The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 state:

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 Act;
(ix) a vehicle used for escort purposes when travelling at a speed not exceeding 25 mph;
(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;

(M) green light from a warning beacon fitted to a vehicle used by a medical practitioner registered by the General Medical Council (whether with full, provisional or limited registration);

(N) yellow light from a warning beacon fitted to a vehicle for use at airports;

[defuzz]

isn't there also something in the regulations about flashing lights and I'm heavily paraphrasing here "must be on for the same amount of time as they are off" eg they need to be 1 second on, 1second off rather than a strobe which is .5 seconds off,00.2 seconds on, 0.5 seconds on

thereby technically outlawing strobes entirely??

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

isn't there also something in the regulations about flashing lights and I'm heavily paraphrasing here "must be on for the same amount of time as they are off" eg they need to be 1 second on, 1second off rather than a strobe which is .5 seconds off,00.2 seconds on, 0.5 seconds on

thereby technically outlawing strobes entirely??

There probably is. Personally I've never tried to count the flashes. It gives me a headache, a bit like doing a response run in heavy rain or snow at night, when the strobes falsh back off the drops! :shock:

[lurch_917]

The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 state:

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 Act;
(ix) a vehicle used for escort purposes when travelling at a speed not exceeding 25 mph;
(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;

(M) green light from a warning beacon fitted to a vehicle used by a medical practitioner registered by the General Medical Council (whether with full, provisional or limited registration);

(N) yellow light from a warning beacon fitted to a vehicle for use at airports;

according to this my indicators are illegal amber flashing to the rear Mmmmmm

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 state:

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 Act;
(ix) a vehicle used for escort purposes when travelling at a speed not exceeding 25 mph;
(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;

(M) green light from a warning beacon fitted to a vehicle used by a medical practitioner registered by the General Medical Council (whether with full, provisional or limited registration);

(N) yellow light from a warning beacon fitted to a vehicle for use at airports;

according to this my indicators are illegal amber flashing to the rear Mmmmmm

I think you'll find that the above rules apply to 'non-obilgatory lighting'; direction indicators are obligatory. Thats my geeky bit done.

[discowoman]

has anyone else noticed lately the 'yoof' of today have taken to placing Hi-viz jackets and amber beacons on the parcel shelves of their 'pimped' corsa's etc?
or is it just a west midlands thing?
*edited cos im carp at speeling *

[KingWolf]

has anyone else noticed lately the 'yoof' of today have taken to placing Hi-viz jackets and amber beacons on the parcel shelves of their 'pimped' corsa's etc?
or is it just a west midlands thing?
*edited cos im carp at speeling *

Can't say I've noticed - but will pop down my local Sainsbury's carpark tonight and have a look... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Mark.