Indicator Frequency

[Raize]

Is it illegal to have an indicator that flashes twice as fast as a regular car's indicator?

[Eighteeteewhy]

Change your bulb

[Raize]

Change my indicator relay, surely? But frankly if it's legal I don't care. It only does it for the first 1 or 2 times I indicate on a journey then goes back to normal

[kambites]

I have vague memories that it has to flash between once and twice a second. Might be completely wrong, though.

ETA: Ah here we go: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/sched...

Road Vehicles Lighting Legislation 1989 said:

Every indicator (other than a semaphore arm, that is an indicator in the form of an illuminated sign which when in operation temporarily alters the outline of the vehicle to the extent of at least 150 mm measured horizontally and is visible from both the front and rear of the vehicle) shall when in operation show a light which flashes constantly at the rate of not less than 60 nor more than 120 flashes per minute. However, in the event of a failure, other than a short-circuit of an indicator, any other indicator on the same side of the vehicle or combination of vehicles may continue to flash, but the rate may be less than 60 or more than 120 flashes per minute. Every indicator shall when in operation perform efficiently regardless of the speed of the vehicle.

[Jasandjules]

Eighteeteewhy said:

Change your bulb

This. One of your bulbs is out.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Jasandjules said:

Eighteeteewhy said:

Change your bulb

This. One of your bulbs is out.

Even if it goes back to normal after a couple of goes?

[Raize]

I think it flashes about once a second normally. So at double speed we're still roughly within guidelines.

[kambites]

Raize said:

I think even at double speed it's still less than 120/minute.

If it is, then it's too slow at single speed.

[Urban Sports]

Why bother indicating? I don't, I'm not sure my car has them?

[Andyjc86]

It sounds like you have a dirty contact, grab an assistant and see which bulb doesn't come on at the start of your indicating

[Mound Dawg]

Urban Sports said:

Why bother indicating? I don't, I'm not sure my car has them?

Checks Urban Sports garage.

Yup, Bmw.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Years ago, I was a passenger in a mate's Mini, in convoy with a few other Minis (all old BL Minis - not BMW Minis!), driving around a town centre one evening.

A passing copper decided that we looked like hooligans, so stopped us all, and proceeded to go through the cars with a fine-toothed comb.

One of the other Minis had a lazy indicator relay (back in the day, they didn't have modern relays, they used ropey old bi-metallic strip units) and the indicators flashed very slowly - i.e the lamp was lit for about 2 seconds, then went off very briefly and then re-lit for another 2 seconds or so...

The copper was a right sod, didn't even give him a VDRS form for it - he just stuck him on straight away for defective lighting under construction and use regs, and he copped a fine for it.