Flashing lights on the roof

[ozzie1989]

With regards to the phasing out of rotating beacons I think you may find that they are phasing out the use of SINGLE rotating beacons for highways work - reason being if the bulb goes you'll have no idea and no safety. If you have a TWIN or more rotator the chances are at least one will be lit up thus not leaving you in a dangerous situation and allowing you some time to change the knackered bulb.

As far as amber lights go, as as long you have a legitimate reason for having one on a vehicle I see no problem. I know multiple private vehicles who have them fitted, and are used once or twice a year for rescue work etc. they are left uncovered simply because there may be a situation where you may have to stop and help, or pull over and it will be for your safety you choose to activate it. I cannot say I have ever heard of anyone being stopped and asked 'so what do you use your beacon for then' and fined etc. for an unsatisfactory answer.

The problem is not with those who have them fitted and hardly use them, or use them off road, but with those who have them fitted and do not know when to use them - such as recovery trucks on the motorway doing 60mph. It is ILLEGAL to use beacons over 25mph and if a recovery vehicle or any other vehicle is towing a stranded vehicle it is classed as a trailer and needs a light board.

Thanks to these idiots who drive at 60mph with red and amber lights flashing, people on the road have no idea how to react to an Abnormal Load Escort (fully compliant with the Highways Code of Conduct lighting and signing) straddling two lanes of a motorway doing 5mph up an incline and hence my friend having 2 cars written off worth tens of thousands including all equipment because someone smashed into the back of them doing 50+! He can't add additional flashing reds etc. as they are governed by the code of conduct, and he is there to protect the load and other road users so can do nothing but let them smash into the back of him - it's plain to see why he uses volvos because you need a damn safe car to do it in!

In my eyes having amber lights fitted is not a problem, knowing when to use them and how to react to them is another thing!

[madmatt]

Our works vans have single flashing beacons attached and we have been informed these are being phased out and all vehicles will be fitted with twin flashing units.

Now I knew about that! all our vehicles have to have a twin element rather than single rotator on it if used on highway maintenance.

[western]

Harking back to what Ralph has said, I was out marshalling (Radio) on the Malcolm Wilson this weekend.

You wouldn't believe the different arrays of Amber beacons/Lightbars/LED's/flashing lights fitted to private vehicles, some only saloon cars/hatchbacks etc. So where do they legally stand?

On Forestry roads, they may be able to flash away merrily, but driving home with them switched off, how do they stand?

rally radio cars don't need them & I wish they wouldn't, it detracts from any recovery units working & travelling while loaded through the stage or going in stage to a incident/recovery.

probably best switched off & removed while travelling to/from events.

[Dave K]

rally radio cars don't need them & I wish they wouldn't, it detracts from any recovery units working & travelling while loaded through the stage or going in stage to a incident/recovery.

probably best switched off 7 removed while travelling to/from events.

You should've seen some the light arrays, Ralph you'd been impressed.

Pity they were only on marshals vehicles...............................

[Contax]

Came across this while searching for info on Amber Flashing Beacon/Light required by law for Class 3 (8mph) Mobility Scoote rif used on dual carriagway, can't get info on this other than: must be visible from all directions, flash between 60 & 240 flash per min & must be above 1.2m from ground. No power rating, size or type stated, I have seen a 24v 6 LED flat one Model 146 by Speaker at Mobile Centre Ltd stated as suitable for mobility Scooter so decided to buy a Rearguard 24v 32 LED type as used on trucks & recovery vehicles, they both flat directional type I was going to fix on back of headrest to attract attention of drivers approaching me from behind but then found the bit visible from all directions required Pride make one only available through their dealers so asked their dealer who refused to get & fix as she said Police had told them not to sell or fit these, I don't believe them. I live in a rural area with very few pavements so had to get a road capable Class 3 as Class 2 (4mph) not allowed on roads A rotating beacon drains to much power from small batteries so would have to be Xeon or LED, the one from Pride is a tiny toy thing I am told only good for pedestrian areas so no good for roads I need to be seen as well as legal, if it has to be on a pole I have seen an LED mini beacon like the strobe ones on alarm boxes but not sure if suitable. As I notice the Police Traffic Patrollers commenting on this site I thought it was worth a try as I would expect them to know. I want to use this on country lanes most of time as it would make me fee a bit safer but may have to go couple of miles on dual carriageway when I take my car for service/repairs as garage has moved onto a dual carriageway with no pavements so need to be legal. Due to severe osteoarthritis caused years ago by prescription drug side effects I am unable to walk far and certainly can't make it to village bus stop or get back up the hill if I got down it on my sticks, I bought it 4 months ago just to let me visit town to find what shops are there, go to parks or seaside for a few hours as my life being restricted also causes my wife's life to be restricted I would appreciate any feedback anyone in the know can give me By the way it is registered & taxed.

[Hybrid_From_Hell]

Information 6/10

Punctuation 1/10

Clarity and readability 0/10

If I can just stop my eyes bleeding I'll be fine

[Happyoldgit]

Doesn't this just boil down to using your loaf and common sense?.

Yep - but sadly not everyone makes use of them.

[Night Train]

So, would anyone have an old rotating beacon they could spare for a good cause then?

I am looking for one for a part of a stage prop for my local amateur dramatics troupe. Needs to be really slow turning though. I don't need the amber lense or the reflector, just the rotating bit around a lamp holder.

Just trying my luck but if someone can spare a knackered one then please pm me.

Thank you.

[jules]

I don't have beacons fitted to any of my trucks but as a Civil Eng / Construction Site manager I still have loads of mag mount and suction mount lights for if I need them most of the site I have run over the last 7-8 years I have not needed to drive round but any plant operating on a Construction site must by law have a beacon to be allowed onto into the site. (Obviously not the car park but a large site which needs transport this applies to)

The regs cover this on my cars with survey purposes and all my cars are insured for my business use.

[Tyymclarenfan]

My rangerover classic was once part of kenfield motors group n still has her complete code 3 quad beacons and front takedown strobes including full reflective side tape n is registered as a recovery vehicle, as being admin of WWW.red-not-dead.co.UK my vehicle has been chosen by the UK recovery scene to try to get a safer environment for my recovery colleagues n so if you see a g reg rangerover classic in eastnor green with a blue stripe on the sides n red n blue chevrons on the boot, trust it's the real thing n is doing for recovery that cements landrovers as a vital recovery asset

[Tyymclarenfan]

Guy's please use amber warning beacons whilst presenting a real hazzard n be safe please, coming from a member of the recovery operators of UK n be safe ?

[Tyymclarenfan]

Guy's the topic of alternating reds is being fought by us in recovery as we speak n only supposed to be used at scenes of real accidents n the UK recovery people are currently trying to get the legislation changed for the use of these lights? As my rangie will be outfitted with these lights and going to the recovery shows to highlight our plight to get a safer environment for my people n my 1989 rangerover that was working for kenfield motors London is going to take up the challenge in full 1990's livery and period beacons ect, as she was at the range rover 30th anniversary n was allowed to go onto the test track at the heritage motor museum ?

[western]

Hello Tyy, good to see you on here

[tacr2man]

Why do you need to get red lights for recovery use ? They were originally only to be used by Fire brigade, then back in about 73 IIRC the police were given dispensation for alternating hi-lo red lights on the rear of Motorway accident units . The same will happen with them as happens now that every tom dick and harry will get them fitted and the end result no one pays a lot of attention . The number of recovery vehicles that you see travelling with amber beacons when not towing needs to be sorted first .

The same as with blue steady lights on recovery trucks and blue reflexite. If you want to drive an emergency vehicle join the emergency services , JMHO

[discomikey]

I, III, and IX cover me

And V

[Simon_CSK]

I have a set of twin flashing beacons which I store in the back of my Disco and have used just once. As an Architect I could justify the survey argument but personally see no reason to have them permanently fixed however last month on my way to take the Disco for its MOT I blew the transfer box and needed to shift the Range Rover from the trailer to tow the trailer on a live trunk road on a Saturday evening. The first thing I did was put the beacons on the roof and despite this the first Van (Merc Sprinter) to come down the road after the lights went up narrowly missed me and other vehicles as it swerved at the last minute to avoid me and my load.

I do think it should be mandatory to have a mag mount for the occasional use as it provided much more visibility than hazard light alone.

Recovering at the side of the road is not limited to fee charging professionals and as such I cannot see how stopping to help invalidates insurance. I have done it just for the fun of helping someone and even pulled a Mondeo out of a ditch from a dangerous position before the police arrived to close the road. Closed roads help one one.

[Happyoldgit]

I've got a little red tear drop mag-mount that I slap on the roof when I need to put the hammer down and run code 3 to the sweet shop for lollies.

Who loves ya baby [he says showing his age].

[Cynic-al]

I'm too lazy to read this whole post but it had never occurred to be that there was any regulation on the use of amber beacons. The only car I've ever had with them on was a second hand pickup I bought as I had a lot of site work at the time as this had reflectors & beacons that were approved for use on RMC sites. The vehicle even had a window sticker so that it could be allowed on to site

Now I do very little site work and just carry a magnetic single beacon, it gets me most of the places I need to go although you do come across some sites that make you park in the car park and walk. If I had to fit them again I would try to get away with the concealed ones in the grill etc. I mean noone wants a big ugly orange light on the roof of their car do they?

[discomikey]

I'm too lazy to read this whole post but it had never occurred to be that there was any regulation on the use of amber beacons. The only car I've ever had with them on was a second hand pickup I bought as I had a lot of site work at the time as this had reflectors & beacons that were approved for use on RMC sites. The vehicle even had a window sticker so that it could be allowed on to site

Now I do very little site work and just carry a magnetic single beacon, it gets me most of the places I need to go although you do come across some sites that make you park in the car park and walk. If I had to fit them again I would try to get away with the concealed ones in the grill etc. I mean noone wants a big ugly orange light on the roof of their car do they?

Poeple tend to ignore the big rotators more than strobes too

[nickwilliams]

I've got a little red tear drop mag-mount that I slap on the roof when I need to put the hammer down

Good luck with that on an alu. Defender roof!

[Happyoldgit]

Good luck with that on an alu. Defender roof!

I've got other toys too

[Retroanaconda]

Screw a steel plate to the roof, that's what we did for a 130 that needed a removeable beacon fitting.

Can just make it out above the drivers seat.

[qwakers]

Why didn't you attach it to the inside above the headlining?

[Retroanaconda]

Because the mechanics were lazy I guess. On my own vehicle that is what I would do.

[130 Overland]

Blimey, we live and we learn! Covers for beacons! In 1981 I went to police training school (Bruche, Warrington) and we were never told this and this is the first time I have ever heard of it. Mind you, if we had to learn the ins and outs of absolutely everything I would still be there!

Thanks OP, it has got me thinking though! With 21 years of driving vehicles with (blue) beacons on I got used to having them. When I did rally recovery (with Western) I had a fixed amber beacon on the roof of my 110, a requirement for entering rally stages.

Now retired and not doing rally recovery either, we bought an ex AA VW Transporter van at auction. Guess what? It still had the beacons on and we never thought to take them off.

With our current 110 I put on a full width beacon, ironically off another ex AA van, when I got involved with 4x4 response, but I could see where that was not going, and was already leaving when the local County Council refused to accept them, so I thought I would take the beacons off. That was a few years ago and I still have not got around to it but they have proved useful since. Like I said, I am so used to having beacons I do not notice them but I am glad they are there when I need them.

In this busy safety conscious world I cannot ever imagine any bobby reporting anyone for not having a cover on the beacon. Yes, the list of authorised vehicles exists, but these days council vehicles, company vehicles etc., can be used for many uses, not just those listed, and employers are conscious that their staff are in ever more danger working on or beside a road these days. I can see Health and Safety having a fit if an employee was expected to climb on to the roof of his hi-roof van to put a cover on the beacon. And if he does not risk life and limb, the Crown Prosecution Service will prosecute? No, not in the public interest. It will never happen.

These days on our busy fast paced roads the more highly visible protection you have the better! Be safe!

One recent winter we were in our ex AA van on a dark night with thick fog on a dual carriageway. The traffic suddenly came to a stand in both lanes. Hazards on but rather ineffective in the fog. Looking intently in the rear view mirror I could see the water particles of the fog start to lighten as a vehicle approached. A quick flash of the full with beacons and the fog turned to flashing orange. At this time the headlights were starting to become discernable in the fog, but immediately on flashing the beacons I could see that the front of the vehicle was diving under heavy braking. He stopped behind us in time and I was thankful that I did not have to climb up the back of the van to take a cover off the beacons! The second vehicle stopped in the same manner, but did not put his hazards on! Not only that but he was effectively blanking the hazards of the car in front of him and those on our van! So when the third vehicle approached the high level beacons on our van were even more essential!! I challenge any bobby and CPS to prosecute me for preventing a multiple pile-up with my uncovered beacons!

With our 110 we have recently been towing a twin axle trailer with a 2.5 ton digger on it. Often, we have to stop on the side of a busy main road to load or offload the digger. With the trailer tailgate down and ramps up, the trailer hazards are barely visible. Furthermore, the 110 hazards are essentially blocked by the digger. The roof mounted full width beacon is essential for safety.

So I say beacons are a good thing! Be seen. Safety first.

Bob.