Blue lights on HGVs

[Jim897]

Why do some HGVs show small but blue lights in their windscreens. I thought that showing a blue light was only allowed by the emergencey services. Are they committing an offence?

[kepla]

Yes it is illegal - it is contravention of the Vehicle Construction and Use Act. If the police stop you for this they can issue a �30 fixed penalty notice.

[erimus1]

More commonly, it is contravenes the Road Vehicle Lightings Regulation 1961, 1989 & 2005.

There are also provisions for this offence in the Road Traffic Act. The Police can insist that the Lights are removed/switche off before you continue your journey.
Regards,
Steve

[Paul22118]

Coming home the other evening I slowed down to let a police car, a white Volvo, pass as it had two blue lights flashing in its frnt area. It was pouring with rain and all I could see were the flickering blue lights on the car. The car duly passed me at a sedate pace when I realised they were in fact blue lights on the dashboard of this Volvo and the 'flashing' was the flickering caused by his wipers! Clever eh! W****r.

[stanleyman]

I saw a BMW with red front parking lights the other day, I hope no one tries to over take him! Probably doesn't know if he's coming or going. It's about time the police clamped down on this so that we can navigate normally.

[Grunty]

The offence is to show a red light to the front or any light other than red to the rear. The use of blue lights by emergency vehicles is an exception to this rule. So, the lorry was committing no offence because the light shown to the front was not red. Further details here: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_3.htm#(Tii)iicolourlightshownlampreflector

[furrycheeky]

This trick is becoming as common as having fog lamps on in the "boy racer" life. Blue lights on dash, blue led windscreen washer jets etc.

[cockneyexile]

if stopped by vosa officers ( vehicle and operator services agency) they can issue a prohib notice forbidding the truck to move untill the lights are removed i got stopped a couple of years back for having a number plate with my name on in the cab screen and suffered the prohib treatment .

[bob57]

Only white,yellow or green lights are allowed to be shown on front of any vehicle that is not an emergency vehicle that is what I was told by an M.O.T examiner when he examined my lorry for M.O.T test about 8 years ago

[OLD SKOOL KI]

Statutory Instrument 1989 No. 1796
The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989
Restrictions on fitting blue warning beacons, special warning lamps and similar devices section 16.
16. No vehicle, other than an emergency vehicle, shall be fitted with-
(a) a blue warning beacon or special warning lamp, or
(b) a device which resembles a blue warning beacon or a special warning lamp, whether the same is in working order or not.
att to the word .!BEACON!..IF ITS NOT A BEACON ITS OK.
REF TO POLICE SPECAILS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS..
Changes in 1995
�Emergency vehicles no longer have to have a motor (e.g. cycles)
�Anyone can use flashing lights on their cycles (1-4 flashes per second, equal amount of time on and off, usual colours)
�Cycles with lights in the pedals or attached to the wheels are now permitted
�Revenue and Customs are allowed to use blue flashing lights when investigating serious crime.
�An abnormal load escort vehicle is defined and allowed to use amber flashing lights above 25 mph
Only emergency vehicles can be fitted with a blue flashing light, or anything that looks like a blue flashing light, whether working or not.
ANY COLOUR
�for interior lighting
�for registration plate lighting
�any colour from the reflectors on a wheel of a cycle, motorbike or invalid carriage .
You can�t have a flashing light except for:
�indicators
�headlights on an emergency vehicle
�flashing lights as described above (on emergency vehicles and vehicles permitted to show other coloured flashing lights)
�a light or sign on a vehicle used for police purposes
�a green light used as an anti-lock braking indicator
�lights on a traffic sign attached to a vehicle
�flashing White lights on the front of a cycle
�flashing red lights on the back of a cycle
SO AS FAR AS