Flashing/Rotating Orange Lights

Post by **Mick F** » 17 Sep 2008, 4:55pm

Is it legal for a bike to use the flashing/rotating orange lights you see on some vehicles?

The lights seem to be on JCBs, lorries, vans, tractors and landrovers. What's the law on this? It seems to me that they'd be a good idea on the back of a bike, albeit a smaller version.

(I'm asking this as a trailer user!)

cranky · Post by **cranky** » 17 Sep 2008, 5:12pm

I'll be interested to know this too as I don't believe the writers of the construction and use regs ever thought of trailers being towed by bicycles. I always thought you were only allowed to show red lights at the rear of a bike, then I saw Bicygnal indicators (orange). Then I learned you can show any colour as long as it's not attached to the bike, ie. it must be attached to your luggage or clothing. So I'm guessing you could have anything you like on a trailer.

gbnz · Post by **gbnz** » 17 Sep 2008, 8:38pm

I wouldn't even start to question whether "something is legal or not on a bike", as long as it's not blatantly "wrong" I.e. cycling down a motorway. Aside from that fact that all operators of JCB's, lorries, vans, tractors and landrovers will be "operating illegally" in one respect or another, any involvement with a legal enforcement process, leads to one recognising that everything is illegal and the enforcement/prosecution process only ever commences when a "major event" has happened or a particularly pedantic law enforcement official is involved.

After all, I can't remember whether I've ever seen a cyclist complying with The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 2005 or any earlier or later variations. I certainly don't (Note when cycling at night I have 12 bulbs (red) on the back, 2 bulbs (white) on the front, orange reflectors on the pedals, white spoke reflectors and a high visibility jacket compliant with EN 471 etc, etc).

It's all irrelevant really, as it takes a particularly misbehaving cyclist, a major event and/or a very pedantic law enforcement official to result in any action

mick skinner · Post by **mick skinner** » 17 Sep 2008, 9:00pm

gbnz, twelve bulbs (red) on the back? is that LEDs and is it two or more seperate lights or is it an improvised device? the reason i ask is that i'm paraniod about not being seen by vehicals approaching from behind and i'm trying to find out about/aquire the brightest rear light that's availible

Post by **Mick F** » 17 Sep 2008, 9:03pm

mick skinner wrote:...... the brightest rear light that's availible

Flashing orange and rotating in a glass bowl?

mick skinner · Post by **mick skinner** » 17 Sep 2008, 9:10pm

i'm a bit squimish about having that sort of light; it just seems a bit too, unconventional. sorry

kwackers · Post by **kwackers** » 17 Sep 2008, 9:16pm

My idea (now patented and in production as soon as I get some cash out of the dragons) is for three lights in a vertical box.

It fastens above the back wheel on a stick and is about 24 inches high by six inches wide with the three lights equally spaced. The important thing is the three lights are different colours, these being (from top to bottom) red, orange, green.

But the really clever bit is only the red one ever needs to be on!!!!

Even cleverer is whilst it'll stop impatient motorists - other faster cyclists will through force of habit overtake with impunity.

Post by **Mick F** » 17 Sep 2008, 9:19pm

I hope Kwackers' tongue is firmly in his cheek!

But back to my OP, any ideas?

kwackers · Post by **kwackers** » 17 Sep 2008, 9:39pm

Mick F wrote:I hope Kwackers' tongue is firmly in his cheek!

But back to my OP, any ideas?

Actually though - normally when cyclists mention lights I'm of the opinion that nobody ever got knocked off by being too visible...

But when it comes to beacons on the back of a bicycle I'm having second thoughts.
It does seem a bit OTT to me...

dkmwt · Post by **dkmwt** » 17 Sep 2008, 10:42pm

I once had an orange square torch that you could stand up it had an orange flashing light on the top.

My thinking on this is you normally see an orange flashing light on unusual vehicles. So a trailer being pulled by a bicycle is "unusual" to a lot of people. Therefore unusual = orange flashing light.

andrew_s · Post by **andrew_s** » 17 Sep 2008, 10:57pm

kwackers wrote:Actually though - normally when cyclists mention lights I'm of the opinion that nobody ever got knocked off by being too visible...

I did once hear of someone who got knocked off through being lit up like a Christmas Tree.
Probably the motorist was too bust trying to work out what the strings of flashing fairy lights were to pay attention to where he was going.

GeoffL · Post by **GeoffL** » 18 Sep 2008, 8:44am

Mick F wrote:I hope Kwackers' tongue is firmly in his cheek!

But back to my OP, any ideas?

You'll find it in the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 in particular, Section II, para 11 (2), which lists vehicles to which an amber warning beacon visible from behind the vehicle may be attached. One of those is, " a vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph or any trailer drawn by such a vehicle", so I'd be OK - but you're way too fast for that :wink:

HTH,

Geoff

Post by **Mick F** » 18 Sep 2008, 8:50am

Thanks Geoff.

Looks like I might be ok, but the 25mph limit is a bit stifling!
Hang on a sec, if they're only legal below 25, why do most vehicles still have them on? Tractors shift along at 50 these days, let alone JCBs and breakdown trucks!

Anyone know where I can buy a lightweight light that runs on batteries?

cranky · Post by **cranky** » 18 Sep 2008, 9:09am

Mick F wrote:Anyone know where I can buy a lightweight light that runs on batteries?

How about any old white flashing LED headlight with an orange gel (think 'sweetie wrapper') wrapped around it ? Plenty of cheap ones on eBay.

It's not exactly what your looking for but I bought two pairs of 'RAC safety lights' to clip on my panniers, cost me a tenner for two pairs inc p&p. Each pair consists of one red light (very bright) and one green light (dim as a dim thing but with a clear white plastic lens). I'm about to replace the green LEDs with hi-brightness white ones. I'm sure you could bodge something similar.

GeoffL · Post by **GeoffL** » 18 Sep 2008, 9:09am

Mick F wrote:Thanks Geoff.

Looks like I might be ok, but the 25mph limit is a bit stifling!
Hang on a sec, if they're only legal below 25, why do most vehicles still have them on? Tractors shift along at 50 these days, let alone JCBs and breakdown trucks!

Anyone know where I can buy a lightweight light that runs on batteries?

Take a look at the actual legislation I quoted. Vehicles with a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph is only one of the permitted groups - and the one I thought might give you justification to fit one to Trailer.

Others groups include breakdown vehicles, and vehicles over a certain width. It's a long list, which is why I posted the link rather than the text of that section.

Geoff