Slow vehicle hazard lights - legal?

[crankedup]

My hobby involves vintage car and caravan which are both pre 1930. Obviously this combo is slow moving cruising at around 30-35mph, its also fairly slow to gather speeds. Of course I keep an close eye on the rear view and pull into a lay-by if a Q of vehicles is building, basically drive with common sense.
I am considering fitting the new style of flashing hazard lights to the rear of the caravan as a warning to traffic of my slow vehicle. Is this legal, safe and sensible or would I be wiser to leave things as they are? Thanks for comments.

[JM]

crankedup said:

My hobby involves vintage car and caravan which are both pre 1930. Obviously this combo is slow moving cruising at around 30-35mph, its also fairly slow to gather speeds. Of course I keep an close eye on the rear view and pull into a lay-by if a Q of vehicles is building, basically drive with common sense.
I am considering fitting the new style of flashing hazard lights to the rear of the caravan as a warning to traffic of my slow vehicle. Is this legal, safe and sensible or would I be wiser to leave things as they are? Thanks for comments.

Would a flashing yellow beacon like the ones used on tractors or other slow moving vehicles be what you mean or are you talking about normal hazard lights i.e all four indicators flashing in unison?

[LocoCoco]

I 99% sure that having the hazard lights on when moving isn't allowed. A colleague got a warning for doing so when dawdling to the next safe place to stop just after something broke on her car.

[Ean218]

I get really peed off by moving vehicles with hazard flashers on. As soon as the flashers are on the indicators are useless.

I have a particular hatred of our local bin wagons who put the hazards on as soon as they come out of the depot and then drive through town changing lanes and turning off the road with no warning whatsoever.

Similarly with cars being towed. The indicators of the tow car are hidden by the car being towed which itself is flashing away like a christmas tree. You have no idea where it's going.

All the above is why it is actually against the law.

Law said:

116

Hazard warning lights. These may be used when your vehicle is stationary, to warn that it is temporarily obstructing traffic. Never use them as an excuse for dangerous or illegal parking. You MUST NOT use hazard warning lights while driving or being towed unless you are on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead. Only use them for long enough to ensure that your warning has been observed.
Law RVLR reg 27

[KevinA4quattro]

Similarly it annoys me when a truck driving normally continues to have a yellow flashing beacon lit. All it says to me is 'Look out, I am a crap driver so avoid me'.

These should only be used for abnormal loads and whilst in the process of loading something whilst in the carriageway.

[john2443]

I took it that the OP meant something like this not hazard lights.

[crankedup]

john2443 said:

I took it that the OP meant something like this not hazard lights.

Sorry I should have made my post clearer. It is these 12v type things I am thinking about.

[streaky]

Don't you know that the sole purpose of hazard flashers to to permit Audi and BMW owners to park their vehicles lawfully on DYLs?

Streaky

[mph1977]

crankedup said:

My hobby involves vintage car and caravan which are both pre 1930. Obviously this combo is slow moving cruising at around 30-35mph, its also fairly slow to gather speeds. Of course I keep an close eye on the rear view and pull into a lay-by if a Q of vehicles is building, basically drive with common sense.
I am considering fitting the new style of flashing hazard lights to the rear of the caravan as a warning to traffic of my slow vehicle. Is this legal, safe and sensible or would I be wiser to leave things as they are? Thanks for comments.

so you wish to fit amber special warning lights ?

what about 360 coverage ? and also iirc , and despite cranes doing it, it;s meant to be for properly slow vehicles i.e. <40 kph like tractors

[crankedup]

mph1977 said:

crankedup said:

My hobby involves vintage car and caravan which are both pre 1930. Obviously this combo is slow moving cruising at around 30-35mph, its also fairly slow to gather speeds. Of course I keep an close eye on the rear view and pull into a lay-by if a Q of vehicles is building, basically drive with common sense.
I am considering fitting the new style of flashing hazard lights to the rear of the caravan as a warning to traffic of my slow vehicle. Is this legal, safe and sensible or would I be wiser to leave things as they are? Thanks for comments.

so you wish to fit amber special warning lights ?

what about 360 coverage ? and also iirc , and despite cranes doing it, it;s meant to be for properly slow vehicles i.e. <40 kph like tractors

Thanks, when you say 'its meant to be' does this mean they are not legal for use in the circumstances that I would be using them?
I don't really feel vulnerable in traffic for 360 degree coverage but my concern is that the closing speeds of some vehicles makes my combo 'at risk' to a rear end shunt perhaps.

[GadgeS3C]

35mph you say? Don't you find you get held up by most moderns in NSL zones these days

[crankedup]

GadgeS3C said:

35mph you say? Don't you find you get held up by most moderns in NSL zones these days

I know it is slow, I pulled into a layby to let a smart looking Lotus be on its way only to discover another 12 or more in convoy. Made a nice sight and they appreciated my pulling over to let them get on with their drive out.

[GadgeS3C]

crankedup said:

GadgeS3C said:

35mph you say? Don't you find you get held up by most moderns in NSL zones these days

I know it is slow, I pulled into a layby to let a smart looking Lotus be on its way only to discover another 12 or more in convoy. Made a nice sight and they appreciated my pulling over to let them get on with their drive out.

I've posted it here before but was once 4 up in a friend's big seven being held up through some bends by a Nova. Obviously couldn't get by and eventually we pulled in to let the queue behind get by but the Nova just trundled on oblivious to the hold up it was causing.

But we weren't going to be "number 2 that starts the queue"

[CharlieTwo]

crankedup said:

Thanks, when you say 'its meant to be' does this mean they are not legal for use in the circumstances that I would be using them?
I don't really feel vulnerable in traffic for 360 degree coverage but my concern is that the closing speeds of some vehicles makes my combo 'at risk' to a rear end shunt perhaps.

The relevant legislation is The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 and what you are talking about is an amber warning beacon. See Section 11(2)(l) if the light is to show to the rear. The table in Section 27 (see row 7) is also relevant. Schedule 16 lists the requirements for a beacon.

[CharlieTwo]

I would add that many tractor/trailer combos can now comfortably do more than 25mph and they still display an amber warning beacon. While at 35mph you would be committing an offence displaying amber to the rear (unless your combo also falls under one of the other categories) I doubt you would ever be spoken to about it, and if you were even the most overzealous Officer would probably do no more than educate you as to the law.

[petrolsniffer]

LocoCoco said:

I 99% sure that having the hazard lights on when moving isn't allowed. A colleague got a warning for doing so when dawdling to the next safe place to stop just after something broke on her car.

Hmm nice to know now I used my hazards when moving on the two occaisons my clutch cable snapped and I was stuck in 2nd and 3rd Although I did try driving a while without and people didn't seem to want to overtake than with them on??

[FiF]

streaky said:

Don't you know that the sole purpose of hazard flashers to to permit Audi and BMW owners to park their vehicles lawfully on DYLs?

Streaky

and Bentley owners

[crankedup]

GadgeS3C said:

crankedup said:

GadgeS3C said:

35mph you say? Don't you find you get held up by most moderns in NSL zones these days

I know it is slow, I pulled into a layby to let a smart looking Lotus be on its way only to discover another 12 or more in convoy. Made a nice sight and they appreciated my pulling over to let them get on with their drive out.

I've posted it here before but was once 4 up in a friend's big seven being held up through some bends by a Nova. Obviously couldn't get by and eventually we pulled in to let the queue behind get by but the Nova just trundled on oblivious to the hold up it was causing.

But we weren't going to be "number 2 that starts the queue"

That is very true, I find it quite annoying when the immediate car behind WILL NOT overtake even when it is perfectly safe to do so. Ho Hum.

Thanks for all comments and Charlietwo for the link.

Edited by crankedup on Friday 2nd November 11:49

[daz3210]

I did hear a comment once from a traffic officer that whilst it is strictly illegal, he feels it perfectly acceptable to put them on when moving if the purpose is to alert folks to a hazard - e.g. when traffic suddenly slows on the motorway.

[john2443]

CharlieTwo said:

I doubt you would ever be spoken to about it, and if you were even the most overzealous Officer would probably do no more than educate you as to the law.

Given that plod could probably fill their days 20 times over if they tried to pull everyone over who was committing a minor offence I agree with the above. 'You are charged with being sensible and trying to prevent an accident by having lights that are safer than standard, how you do you plead'