Red lights on top of police car?

Red lights on top of police car?

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Discussion

MarkRSi

Original Poster:

5,782 posts

217 months

Sunday 12th February 2017
quotequote all
Today I was following a police car which had red lights flashing rather than the usual blues. I was just curious what these would be for? (I wasn't tailgating them or anything hehe)

We parted ways at a roundabout, however shortly after the same police car shot past us with all usual blues going, cool story bro but might that have something to do with the earlier red lights flashing?

Medic-one

3,105 posts

202 months

Sunday 12th February 2017
quotequote all

Some vehicles have red and blue i believe, but red is only allowed to be at the back.

My work RRV (ambulance response car) has blue all round for normal responding, but if i want to use my 'at scene' mode (which basically leaves the engine and the flashing lights at the rear of the car on, so handy when parked up at the scene on an RTC) it activates a red flashing light as well (integrated in the lightbar).

As soon is i remove the handbrake that red one stops, so i can't drive with it on.

MarkRSi

Original Poster:

5,782 posts

217 months

Sunday 12th February 2017
quotequote all
Couldn't tell if the red lights were visible from the front as I was following them, but they were definitely moving with the lights going.

Elroy Blue

8,686 posts

191 months

Sunday 12th February 2017
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Forgot to switch the off - cake offence

BossHogg

5,971 posts

177 months

Sunday 12th February 2017
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Elroy will probably confirm, police in my county usually use rear reds only when they stop someone on the hard shoulder, which can be confusing as we only use rear reds (and ambers) in live lane. wink

Greendubber

13,129 posts

202 months

Monday 13th February 2017
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Yep, rear reds left on.

Our vehicles have a beep that lets you know 'something' from the emergency pad is on, annoying when on a long blue light run but stops you looking like a plum as you cruise about all day with your rear reds on.

As Elroy said, cakes if spotted.

MitchT

15,788 posts

208 months

Monday 13th February 2017
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I seem to recall, from once being an observant young boy who liked police cars, that the light bar would be blue with small white lights inserted in the front and small red ones in the rear. I believe they're made by a company called Premier Hazard.

Martin_Hx

3,951 posts

197 months

Monday 13th February 2017
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Cake offense hehe

Nickyboy

6,700 posts

233 months

Monday 13th February 2017
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I've noticed the new BMW's that TVP have got now have very bright white strobes at the front of the light bar and grill i'm assuming to replace the alternating headlamps as HIDs can't be used in such a way

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Monday 13th February 2017
quotequote all
Elroy Blue said:
Forgot to switch the off - cake offence
Too lenient.

Deserves The Comfy Chair...

At least.

BossHogg

5,971 posts

177 months

Monday 13th February 2017
quotequote all
Nickyboy said:
I've noticed the new BMW's that TVP have got now have very bright white strobes at the front of the light bar and grill i'm assuming to replace the alternating headlamps as HIDs can't be used in such a way
We had the white strobes on our new discos as due to DRLs, we couldn't have alternating headlights, we had to disconnect them as they went against the lighting regs!

matchmaker

8,463 posts

199 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
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Elroy Blue said:
Forgot to switch the off - cake offence
The Scottish Police College is near where I work so there a lot of trainees in marked and unmarked cars about. I was stuck behind one of them last year for 5 fking miles which had the rear reds on - bloody dazzling!furiousfurious

SamRS197

34 posts

141 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
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Rear reds with blues for stopping in live traffic. Helpful when approaching a emergency vehicle from a distance to see whether they are stopped or still travelling

grumpyscot

1,277 posts

191 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
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matchmaker said:
The Scottish Police College is near where I work so there a lot of trainees in marked and unmarked cars about. I was stuck behind one of them last year for 5 fking miles which had the rear reds on - bloody dazzling!furiousfurious
What? Scotland? Police? I thought they only used their cars to go to McDonalds! Can't remember the last time I saw a police car, and I'm just outside Edinburgh!

JumboBeef

3,772 posts

176 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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matchmaker said:
Elroy Blue said:
Forgot to switch the off - cake offence
The Scottish Police College is near where I work so there a lot of trainees in marked and unmarked cars about. I was stuck behind one of them last year for 5 fking miles which had the rear reds on - bloody dazzling!furiousfurious
I'm pretty sure it is illegal to drive with them on. As already said in ambulance world they will only operate with handbrake on.

surveyor_101

5,069 posts

178 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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normally used while stationary but some vehicles run them whilst in motion. Not illegal either way its just services have different policies.

For example HETOS run them stand alone if on a the shelf. Then with amber if the hold or stopping traffic.


Greendubber

13,129 posts

202 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
JumboBeef said:
matchmaker said:
Elroy Blue said:
Forgot to switch the off - cake offence
The Scottish Police College is near where I work so there a lot of trainees in marked and unmarked cars about. I was stuck behind one of them last year for 5 fking miles which had the rear reds on - bloody dazzling!furiousfurious
I'm pretty sure it is illegal to drive with them on. As already said in ambulance world they will only operate with handbrake on.
Certainly not the case for the police.

Landshark

2,117 posts

180 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
Greendubber said:
JumboBeef said:
matchmaker said:
Elroy Blue said:
Forgot to switch the off - cake offence
The Scottish Police College is near where I work so there a lot of trainees in marked and unmarked cars about. I was stuck behind one of them last year for 5 fking miles which had the rear reds on - bloody dazzling!furiousfurious
I'm pretty sure it is illegal to drive with them on. As already said in ambulance world they will only operate with handbrake on.
Certainly not the case for the police.
Rolling roads are done with rear reds and blues.

I'm pretty sure that Police are the only ones allowed rear reds in legislation (I know HETO have an exemption)

JumboBeef

3,772 posts

176 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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OK, I stand corrected.

Ambulance can definitely use them when stationary though.

BossHogg

5,971 posts

177 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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We use reds and ambers for rolling road blocks, and just ambers on the hard shoulder unless a dynamic risk assessment dictates otherwise. wink