Discussion
I work now for the local Council in taxi licensing and as such I often work in the early hours performing road side checks of taxis and private hire vehicles. I am an ex police officer and well aware of the hazards of working at the roadside, particularly late at night. The Council issues me with a fluorescent jacket however despite being very careful I have had one or two incidents that make me wish I had some more protection. We use our own cars for this role so they are unmarked in any way. I have read the legislation and cant find any allowance for me to fit some small led amber flashing lights that I would use on a switch to add to my hazard lights for when my vehicle is stopped at the roadside. Given my position I don't want to break the law and I do feel that the use of such lights would be sensible and in the spirit of the law given what I am doing. Would any current Roads Policing officers be able to offer me any advice please?
Thanks for the responses. The Council has very many committees as you might imagine however some might say I will be dead and buried before action is taken. I have some led units from ebay I've mounted on a board which can be put on the rear side of the rear seat upright so as to be seen from the rear of the estate car, and operated by a switch. If I then have to stop on a dark or fast stretch of road then I can use them. However not wanting to fall foul of legislation, and having seen a list of approved purposes of vehicles (that I'm not on) I just wanted to check if anyone knows for sure if I'm ok. Being honest if I feel the situation merits it I will risk it on the grounds of better safe then sorry but would be nice to be able to defend myself. What's quality lurking by the way?
I had amber strobes fitted to my MG ZR to use for visibility whilst I was using it as a Management car at the Snowman Rally, and I kept them fitted afterwards. I was pulled over a few months later for tax/mot/insurance/etc spot check and the officers commented on them, after a short discussion on the rules on HOW to use them, I was told that as I had a valid reason, I was allowed to have them fitted to the vehicle. The big "Snowman Rally Management Car" sticker still on the windscreen probably helped.
So yes, you can have amber strobes fitted, if you have a reason to use them. I was also informed that I was allowed to use them on the road if I was broken down etc, to supplement hazards.
If you want to use them when moving, I had read it was <10MPH only, but Police Scotland told me <25MPH, so use discretion there.
So yes, you can have amber strobes fitted, if you have a reason to use them. I was also informed that I was allowed to use them on the road if I was broken down etc, to supplement hazards.
If you want to use them when moving, I had read it was <10MPH only, but Police Scotland told me <25MPH, so use discretion there.
Edited by alexnessie on Thursday 18th September 01:37
pills said:
http://www.powerflare.com/
Any help since these don't attach to car. Costco stock them.
Excellent idea, but my concern (as someone who spends ~80% of their work on all types of road but motorways) would be visibility to anything but the first car in the queueAny help since these don't attach to car. Costco stock them.
Even with warning signs, knee length hi-viz jacket, and the car sitting with the strobes and hazards flashing, I've had people following a small van so closely that they only see me at the last minute and have to swerve - some drivers are utterly useless...
The best place for strobes would be the roof of the car, unfortunately decent rood mounted systems are expensive and - I found mounting the cheaper but still reasonably bright LED systems in the rear window (estate car) provides the best visibility when activated while remaining fairly discreet when not needed
I'll see if I can get some pictures up later...
Found some pictures from my old install thread - old car now gone to car heaven unfortunately, install on the new car was exactly the same except I mounted them vertically on the sides of the rear screen, due to the aforementioned need to be higher up!!
I said:
The cable routing down to the control box - I put the control box on this side as it meant I only had to run three cables (+ve, -ve and signal) up and through the boot hinge
All seals replaced:
All cables tidied up and ready to put the car back together:
The final mounting, I put black tape round the units stop light being reflected back into the cabin and make them less visible:
And the final video, very happy with the result, they're as bright if not brighter than the indicators and they strobe very nicely
Can't complain at all, would be nice to get some longer cables but it's not the end of the world having to solder some of my own bits
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg4z5DK5sJY
All seals replaced:
All cables tidied up and ready to put the car back together:
The final mounting, I put black tape round the units stop light being reflected back into the cabin and make them less visible:
And the final video, very happy with the result, they're as bright if not brighter than the indicators and they strobe very nicely
Can't complain at all, would be nice to get some longer cables but it's not the end of the world having to solder some of my own bits
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg4z5DK5sJY
steve S owner said:
The Council has very many committees as you might imagine rear,, If I then have to stop on a dark or fast stretch of road then I can use them.
I would take a look at your working practice to remove the bit in bold. Maybe look at where you are stopping vehicles.Many on here suggest people shouldn't be stopped on motorway hard shoulders for minor things.
I'd say your health/safety is way more important than stopping someone in a dodgy location.
Fully appreciate what you are saying only I don't stop them in the way the police might for example. I tend to react to where there is something amiss such as where private hire vehicles might be plying illegally etc and yes I agree even dealing with that comes second to my own safety.
steve S owner said:
I work now for the local Council in taxi licensing and as such I often work in the early hours performing road side checks of taxis and private hire vehicles.
As you're only going to be performing road side checks when stationary why not get one of these?Assuming your vehicle has a cigar(ette) lighter socket: job done.
Mounted on the roof it will be much more visible to traffic than LEDs at (rear) window level or on a seat back.
It also has the advantage of being readily detachable when not required nor does it need plumbing in to the car's wiring.
the_lone_wolf said:
The best place for strobes would be the roof of the car, unfortunately decent rood mounted systems are expensive
I guess it depends on what you call expensive. Even a stingy Council's budget should be able to afford one of the above. Unless you are 'forcing' the taxis to stop I can't imagine why you, your car (and the taxi and taxi driver) should be anywhere where hazards shouldn't be more than sufficient (and probably superfluous)?
Having checked they haven't already got a policy for it which you are unaware of
it's an issue you should raise with your employer immediately - to protect yourself and also to protect them from you trying to solve the problem yourself.
Having checked they haven't already got a policy for it which you are unaware of
it's an issue you should raise with your employer immediately - to protect yourself and also to protect them from you trying to solve the problem yourself.I have had several amber flashers over the years. I work on the road side often and used them to make people aware that the vehicle was stopped or while coming to a stop in a coned off area etc.
If you buy something, as a general rule I would stay away from ebay, but in any case purchase something that is 'E' marked. Some of the cheaper chinese stuff is a/not waterproof and b/ the flash patterns are that intense they can invoke epileptic fits. 'E' marked flashers have approved flash patterns that reduce that risk.
In other words, buy from a reputable company.
I would imagine that all you need is something visible from the rear.
Depending on what vehicle you drive would determine whats best.
Ring someone like https://www.emergencyequipmentshop.co.uk/ or http://www.redtronic.co.uk and ask for advice.
If you buy something, as a general rule I would stay away from ebay, but in any case purchase something that is 'E' marked. Some of the cheaper chinese stuff is a/not waterproof and b/ the flash patterns are that intense they can invoke epileptic fits. 'E' marked flashers have approved flash patterns that reduce that risk.
In other words, buy from a reputable company.
I would imagine that all you need is something visible from the rear.
Depending on what vehicle you drive would determine whats best.
Ring someone like https://www.emergencyequipmentshop.co.uk/ or http://www.redtronic.co.uk and ask for advice.
Oreumably you don't have access to your employer's fleet then?
I have seen some LAs running marked vehicles for a variety of civil protection / enforcement purposes marked in a similar way the the standard required by the HA for their none HATO fleet.
Have you considered magnetic chapter 8 rear markings in addition to any warning lights? Far more visible imo.
I have seen some LAs running marked vehicles for a variety of civil protection / enforcement purposes marked in a similar way the the standard required by the HA for their none HATO fleet.
Have you considered magnetic chapter 8 rear markings in addition to any warning lights? Far more visible imo.
Red Devil said:
I guess it depends on what you call expensive. Even a stingy Council's budget should be able to afford one of the above.
Depends on the requirements - LED systems are quite expensive if you buy decent kit 
That sort of halogen rotating bulb system isn't suitable for me as I'll often need to leave them on for hours with the engine off, even with the huge battery in the tank leaving a 75W system running will drain it, plus they aren't anywhere near as good at catching the eye as strobes
I had to purchase my own kit unfortunately, so ebay was a good first port of call, a proper LED roof mounted lightbar would be my choice but you'll be looking at £200+ for that
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