Amber lights on tow trucks

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
View Threaded
Sun 9 Nov 2003 01:26
Amber lights on tow trucks - Peter C
What is the law on these? I thought the vehicle had to be stationary to use them but i am often very distracted by tow trucks including AA towing on the motorway with the lights flashing for no good reason that I can see. THey are moving at least as fast as a caravan so why the need to have them flashing. When stationary obviously they are useful. Is it jsut part of the fashion to light up you vehicle along with the fog lamp users?

Cheers

Peter
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 9 Nov 2003 07:07
Amber lights on tow trucks - Dwight Van Driver
Road Vehicles Lighting Regs, 1989, Reg 27

Permitted use of orange warning beacons:

(i) at the scene of an emergency;

(ii) when it is necessary or desirable to warn persons of the presence of the vehicle; and

(iii) in the case of a breakdown vehicle, while it is being used in connection with, and in the immediate vicinity of, an accident or breakdown, or while it is being used to draw a broken-down vehicle.

Slightly connected and as it is a free information day:

With Hazard flashers (indicators) use permitted on a road to:

warn of temporary obstruction WHILST VEHICLE AT REST only,

but on a Motorway or Dual carriageway can be used on the move to slow down following traffic because of obstruction ahead.

or in the case of a bus to summons assistance for the Driver, Conductor or Inspector

DVD
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 9 Nov 2003 19:15
Amber lights on tow trucks - spikeyhead {p}
I was once in a taxi when a driver asked me the same question.

I replied that it was for the same reason that a canine licks it testicles, ie because it can.

He laughed so hard he nearly crashed.
--
I read often, only post occasionally
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 10 Nov 2003 00:24
Amber lights on tow trucks - PhilW
Strangely enough, I asked the same question on another recent thread. My question having been prompted by being overtaken by an "orange flasher" in the outside lane on the M1 at about 80mph.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 10 Nov 2003 00:28
Amber lights on tow trucks - Rob the Bus {P}
I can well understand why a recovery vehicle towing another broken down vehicle should display flashing beacons, but why does a flatbed truck need then when it has a vehicle on the back? Or indeed (like I saw today) when an AA truck has a scooter strapped to the back?

Surely in the above instances, there is no actual change to the size or length of the recovery vehicle, so why the need to warn us?

Cheers

Rob
Reply | Report as offensive | Link

We give you the low down on how to save on insurance, little-known tricks and tips, what insurance groups mean and how to use insurance aggregators to beat insurers.

Insurance group finder and how to save on insurance

Real MPG enables you to register the fuel economy you are actually getting against your make and model of car, its engine and type of transmission.

Every time you enter an average consumption figure against your car, the overall average automatically adjusts to reflect it.

Real MPG