Is this rear mounted laser light legal?
Discussion
RobbyJ said:
I commute on a bike daily and last night despite a flashing front light and a helmet mounted (my head) bright light a pedestrian still walked out in front of me without looking a I hit her a little after some serious braking action. I was going to say something before I noticed the heroin addict look in her eyes and she slapped me in the face, at which point I rode off without saying a word having a little chuckle, apparently no lights are enough! (for the record my light was very green and the pedestrian light was very red).
Should've slapped her back! b
h certainly deserved a good verbal!Race rain lights don't flash on circuit, only for specific other reasons, pits in f1, and that rather odd not harvesting enough warning. They are a fixed bright light for racing in the rain.
Bert
Bert
untakenname said:
Seems like the general consensus is that it's a bad thing then, tbh I would have only hooked it up to the rear fog light to increase visibility on the motorway in poor conditions.
A bright red rear flashing light like racecars use in the rain would be useful in fog/rain as well but perhaps not legal on the roads although most modern cars flash the rear lights when ABS is activated so it's now a bit of a grey area.
I was looking on youtube to see what the laser looks like in real life and came across an OEM Audi version! I wonder if it has type approval or what models its fitted/optional for, if Audi fit them in the factory then surely it's legal to fit aftermarket?
A bit like how fitting excessively bright DRL's would have got you a tug a few years back but after they came factory fitted to cars police now just allow it
Audi's version in action, looks quite similar to the chinese versions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2rihmRDSR
A bright red rear flashing light like racecars use in the rain would be useful in fog/rain as well but perhaps not legal on the roads although most modern cars flash the rear lights when ABS is activated so it's now a bit of a grey area.
I was looking on youtube to see what the laser looks like in real life and came across an OEM Audi version! I wonder if it has type approval or what models its fitted/optional for, if Audi fit them in the factory then surely it's legal to fit aftermarket?
A bit like how fitting excessively bright DRL's would have got you a tug a few years back but after they came factory fitted to cars police now just allow it
Audi's version in action, looks quite similar to the chinese versions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2rihmRDSR
Edited by untakenname on Friday 9th January 12:35
They have flashed during races for a few years now.
http://www.mclarenelectronics.com/Products/Product...
http://www.mclarenelectronics.com/Products/Product...
The type of who drives around with his rear fog lamps on at all times will love these things. Don't encourage the idiots (who appear to be increasing in number day by day - the main culprits appear to be tts in recent expensive SUVs, but also Beemercocks and Auditts). When I am King, anyone who drives with fog lamps on when it is not foggy WILL BE KILLED. Ditto anyone who drives without lights when the viz is crap. If driving a silver car, they WILL BE KILLED TWICE.
Now ….. breathe.
who drives around with his rear fog lamps on at all times will love these things. Don't encourage the idiots (who appear to be increasing in number day by day - the main culprits appear to be tts in recent expensive SUVs, but also Beemercocks and Auditts). When I am King, anyone who drives with fog lamps on when it is not foggy WILL BE KILLED. Ditto anyone who drives without lights when the viz is crap. If driving a silver car, they WILL BE KILLED TWICE. Now ….. breathe.
BertBert said:
Race rain lights don't flash on circuit, only for specific other reasons, pits in f1, and that rather odd not harvesting enough warning....
The rain light flashes when the car is harvesting energy to warn cars behind that it may slow up faster than usual due to additional braking created by the energy recovery system.As the energy recovery system does not operate at the exact same time/place on every lap, there is a higher risk of a driver behind being caught out by a car slowing slightly quicker out of the blue.
As for the original topic:
What a stupid (and unnecessary), device!
Never mind if they're not set up correctly, even if they are, when cresting a hill, where's that beam of laser light going to go? - Bloody upwards into the following drivers eye-line! - That's where!
If drivers follow cars in fog too closely already, even when rear fog lights are in use, then that device will make no difference whatsoever! - They'll still follow too closely because they're idiots!
4rephill said:
The rain light flashes when the car is harvesting energy to warn cars behind that it may slow up faster than usual due to additional braking created by the energy recovery system.
I should pay more attention in class!And to the original question, I quite like the idea. Could you use it to write messages on the road to the person behind? "Would you mind awefully keeping a slightly bigger gap? There's a good fellow."
Bert
Breadvan72 said:
The type of who drives around with his rear fog lamps on at all times will love these things. Don't encourage the idiots (who appear to be increasing in number day by day - the main culprits appear to be tts in recent expensive SUVs, but also Beemercocks and Auditts). When I am King, anyone who drives with fog lamps on when it is not foggy WILL BE KILLED. Ditto anyone who drives without lights when the viz is crap. If driving a silver car, they WILL BE KILLED TWICE.
Now ….. breathe.
Long live King Breadvan LXXII !!!! who drives around with his rear fog lamps on at all times will love these things. Don't encourage the idiots (who appear to be increasing in number day by day - the main culprits appear to be tts in recent expensive SUVs, but also Beemercocks and Auditts). When I am King, anyone who drives with fog lamps on when it is not foggy WILL BE KILLED. Ditto anyone who drives without lights when the viz is crap. If driving a silver car, they WILL BE KILLED TWICE. Now ….. breathe.
From this post
Malcx said:
Anyway, not having a good answer I went around various DVLA departments until I was referred to the IVS (Import Vehicle safety) division who, a month after emailing, came back with:
The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989, as amended, set out the conditions for the use of fog lights. These require that fog lights are only used when visibility is seriously reduced. Further guidance is provided in the highway code, e.g. see rule 236:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/drivi...
It is an offence to use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road any vehicle on which any lamp so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road. Hence we would recommend that you do not fit rear laser fog lights to your vehicle.
So based on their recommendation it's probably not a good idea to fit one of these...
The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989, as amended, set out the conditions for the use of fog lights. These require that fog lights are only used when visibility is seriously reduced. Further guidance is provided in the highway code, e.g. see rule 236:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/drivi...
It is an offence to use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road any vehicle on which any lamp so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road. Hence we would recommend that you do not fit rear laser fog lights to your vehicle.
So based on their recommendation it's probably not a good idea to fit one of these...
Retroman said:
Looks like they were scraping the barrel to come back with a "no"
From their response, as long as it doesn't dazzle people or cause any glare you should be fine.
I could easily see this getting shone into drivers eyes in some circumstances, e.g. the car going over a bump in the road, an SUV type vehicle braking hard etc. It's a completely stupid and unnecessary idea, but it's bright and shiny so cretins will be drawn to it like flies around sFrom their response, as long as it doesn't dazzle people or cause any glare you should be fine.
t.Mr2Mike said:
I could easily see this getting shone into drivers eyes in some circumstances, e.g. the car going over a bump in the road, an SUV type vehicle braking hard etc. It's a completely stupid and unnecessary idea, but it's bright and shiny so cretins will be drawn to it like flies around st.
Just needs the right puddle on the right road...t.
Retroman said:
Looks like they were scraping the barrel to come back with a "no"
From their response, as long as it doesn't dazzle people or cause any glare you should be fine.
The circumstances where this doesn't dazzle or cause glare probably aren't going to occur frequently, IMO. A laser directed onto a wet or shiny road surface at an angle is almost a perfect glare-creating deviceFrom their response, as long as it doesn't dazzle people or cause any glare you should be fine.
untakenname said:
Whilst browsing a chinese based website I came across some 'Anti Collision Rear-end Car Laser Safety Fog Taillight Warning Lights' which mount on the rear of the car on the bumper/parcel shelf. They seem a good idea to deter tailgaters in poor conditions and only cost around a fiver.
I'm wondering if they are actually legal to use on UK roads and what's the worst that could happen if pulled, a fine or points?
I'm wondering if they are actually legal to use on UK roads and what's the worst that could happen if pulled, a fine or points?
they might be more usefull than full beam if front mounted as a way of indicating to the self absorbed mongs who use fog lights when unnecessary
however if people rear mount them a pitt manuver should be an mandatory reaction from following drivers...
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