Can you use 'blue static' light on your car UK?

[ShadowHunter1991]

I understand blue 'flashing' lights are illegal for general public, but would a 70mm diameter halo ring LED light that can display various colours via Bluetooth and app be legal, if not flashing? Everything I've read says 'flashing' is illegal, but strangely nothing mentioned static blue. I guess blue in general is a no, in which case, why wouldn't the law and rules just clearly state 'any blue light' be it flashing or not. Surely means it's open to interpretation? If it resembles an authority vehicle I can understand, but most headlights have blue rings, so can't see why it would be a problem. Thanks all.

Edited by ShadowHunter1991 on Friday 7th April 22:32

Forgot to say, not for racing or anything, just got a halo ring LED from Amazon by mistake and thought it would look call behind the Volvo badge. Not to use whilst driving, but could change it to the white light. Not sure if it would be classed as illegal if it has the capability to change colour, but only on command of me the driver. Seems weird they can be sold if they are potentially illegal. I mainly thought leave it on white or blue when parked for visibility on the roadside and to look like a sensor to prevent breaking in maybe. Also handy as a front light to operate from my phone when working in the dark. Also have a lower LED lightbar.

Edited by ShadowHunter1991 on Friday 7th April 22:36

Also, so many cars seem to have blue headlights these days, which I guess isn't ideal, but legal?

Edited by ShadowHunter1991 on Friday 7th April 22:38

[Vanden Crash]

The only light that can be seen from the front of the car is white or amber

The back is red only

[kambites]

Vanden Crash said:

The only light that can be seen from the front of the car is white or amber

The back is red only

I think you're allowed amber on the back, and indeed white (at least when reverse gear is engaged).

ETA regarding blue lights the rules say:

The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 said:

16. No vehicle, other than an emergency vehicle, shall be fitted with–

(a)a blue warning beacon or special warning lamp, or

(b)a device which resembles a blue warning beacon or a special warning lamp, whether the same is in working order or not.

So it would come down to whether a static blue light "resembles a blue warning beacon". I guess.

The rules also explicitly say nothing must be visible to the rear except... a long list of exceptions. See here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/regu...


So I think you can have a blue exterior light as long as it's not visible from the rear and doesn't "resemble a blue warning beacon or a special warning lamp". However you cannot have a light capable of showing red to the front!

Edited by kambites on Friday 7th April 21:46

[pidsy]

why would you want to?

[Jazoli]

pidsy said:

why would you want to?

Because race car of course....

Come on OP why do you want to show blue lights on your car?

[Saleen836]

Jazoli said:

pidsy said:

why would you want to?

Because race car of course....

Come on OP why do you want to show blue lights on your car?

Seems to be a 'thing' to have blue side lights showing on a lot of cars recently. the other trend seems to be indicators that are permanently on (mostly older BMWs)

[paradigital]

I’m pretty sure loads of lads used to get pulled for having those blue lit washer nozzles back in the early 2000s. They were statically lit.

[TheRainMaker]

Static light blue light is fine.

Flashing blue light is a no.

Red to the front is a no

White to the back is a no.

This was last time I checked in 2000 ish

[rodericb]

paradigital said:

I’m pretty sure loads of lads used to get pulled for having those blue lit washer nozzles back in the early 2000s. They were statically lit.

Whoah that's a blast from the past.

[Catastrophic Poo]

Feels a bit walty.

[Muddle238]

Catastrophic Poo said:

Feels a bit walty.

A Volvo with a blue light in the grille....

In all seriousness OP, I really wouldn't bother. I can assure you a Volvo with a backlit Volvo badge will look far worse than just leaving it standard. Also we don't want the Volvo brand going down the barrying-scene route.. says he with a P3 V70

Also, no cars have blue headlights. Many Xenon/HID/LED headlights look more blue when compared to say, a halogen headlight but that's because halogens are relatively yellow at around 2700-3000K. Xenon and the like at around 6000K will look significantly cooler, but when compared to an actual blue light they are most clearly white.

[georgeyboy12345]

rodericb said:

paradigital said:

I’m pretty sure loads of lads used to get pulled for having those blue lit washer nozzles back in the early 2000s. They were statically lit.

Whoah that's a blast from the past.

Ah, good old ttlights.

[Katzenjammer]

TheRainMaker said:

Static light blue light is fine.

Flashing blue light is a no.

Red to the front is a no

White to the back is a no.

This was last time I checked in 2000 ish

White to the back? A clampdown on this really bright naff LED numberplate lights would be nice!

[georgeyboy12345]

ShadowHunter1991 said:

I understand blue 'flashing' lights are illegal for general public, but would a 70mm diameter halo ring LED light that can display various colours via Bluetooth and app be legal, if not flashing? Everything I've read says 'flashing' is illegal, but strangely nothing mentioned static blue. I guess blue in general is a no, in which case, why wouldn't the law and rules just clearly state 'any blue light' be it flashing or not. Surely means it's open to interpretation? If it resembles an authority vehicle I can understand, but most headlights have blue rings, so can't see why it would be a problem. Thanks all.

Edited by ShadowHunter1991 on Friday 7th April 22:32

Forgot to say, not for racing or anything, just got a halo ring LED from Amazon by mistake and thought it would look call behind the Volvo badge. Not to use whilst driving, but could change it to the white light. Not sure if it would be classed as illegal if it has the capability to change colour, but only on command of me the driver. Seems weird they can be sold if they are potentially illegal. I mainly thought leave it on white or blue when parked for visibility on the roadside and to look like a sensor to prevent breaking in maybe. Also handy as a front light to operate from my phone when working in the dark. Also have a lower LED lightbar.

Edited by ShadowHunter1991 on Friday 7th April 22:36

Also, so many cars seem to have blue headlights these days, which I guess isn't ideal, but legal?

Edited by ShadowHunter1991 on Friday 7th April 22:38

I’m quoting this in case you try to delete it

[Baldchap]

You know the answer. We know the answer. You know what everyone will think about you if you do...

Question is, will you?

[TheRainMaker]

Katzenjammer said:

TheRainMaker said:

Static light blue light is fine.

Flashing blue light is a no.

Red to the front is a no

White to the back is a no.

This was last time I checked in 2000 ish

White to the back?

Yep, you can’t show white to the rear while the car in forward motion.

[Dog Star]

georgeyboy12345 said:

I’m quoting this in case you try to delete it

Woah! The forum police have arrived.

[Triumph Man]

Taste police might worry

[Far Cough]

Not this again ...... years ago everyone was fitting those stupid coloured lights to their windscreen squirters and getting tickets for their troubles.

Unless the light is within the cockpit ( think big lorries with their bulkhead emblazoned with all manner of lights ) then as above , you are limited to the colours mentioned front and back.

Here is chapter and verse :

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/regu...

[White-Noise]

Anyone seeing that in their rear view mirror will wonder if it's an unmarked police car so will act on the side of caution. I don't know how bright it is but at night people will certainly think that. I'd say its a matter of time till you get a tug and rightly so.