Illuminated decorations in lorry cabs. - Sofa Spud

It's not unusual to see oncoming lorries at night with elaborate illuminated decorations inside their cab. I mean the sort that is mounted at the back of the cab, so it can be seen through the windscreen. These vary in colour and I've even seen blue ones, similar colour to emergency beacons (although not flashing).

These illuminations can be confusing to oncoming drivers and they must also be a distraction to the driver of the lorry, since they: A) give off light inside the cab and B) they must cause at least some degree of reflection on the inside of the windscreen.

These things must already be illegal. For a start, you're only allowed to show a white or orange (flashing) light to the front.

Surely it's time the police clamped down on drivers who choose to display these illuminations.

Illuminated decorations in lorry cabs. - Simon

Surely it's time the police clamped down on drivers who choose to display these illuminations.

They could do, but I think maybe channeling their resources into real crime ought to be more of a priority...

Illuminated decorations in lorry cabs. - Armitage Shanks {p}

Vital stuff like this? www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-26729965

Edited by Armitage Shanks {p} on 01/11/2014 at 07:47

Illuminated decorations in lorry cabs. - Ben 10
Blue lights - Under the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989, it states "except for emergency vehicles it is an offence to fit a blue warning beacon or special warning lamp or device resembling such whether working or not"

This from Norfolk Constabulary website. So having blue bulbs or blue background is not illegal.

I saw a BMW with its headlight LED rings coloured blue the other night. Didn't resemble any type of generic flashing light or beacon so would appear to be legal. Though I find the lorry example distracting and feel that no blue lighting should be allowed unless on an emergency vehicle in whatever mode.
Illuminated decorations in lorry cabs. - Bolt

It's not unusual to see oncoming lorries at night with elaborate illuminated decorations inside their cab. I mean the sort that is mounted at the back of the cab, so it can be seen through the windscreen. These vary in colour and I've even seen blue ones, similar colour to emergency beacons (although not flashing).

These illuminations can be confusing to oncoming drivers and they must also be a distraction to the driver of the lorry, since they: A) give off light inside the cab and B) they must cause at least some degree of reflection on the inside of the windscreen.

These things must already be illegal. For a start, you're only allowed to show a white or orange (flashing) light to the front.

Surely it's time the police clamped down on drivers who choose to display these illuminations.

I would rather see lorries like that, than cars with out of alignment headlights as a lot more seem to be these days, or even on main beam that some will not switch off?

Where are we going to get the police from to police it,I think they have enough to do without lorry lights,some look nice imo

Illuminated decorations in lorry cabs. - Wackyracer

As they are not mounted on the outside of the lorry I cannot see how it can be covered by vehicle lighting regulations.

Personally, I'd only be concerned about reflection on the inside of the screen. I won't even drive with a newspaper or delivery documents on the dashboard. I like to have the best possible vision.

Illuminated decorations in lorry cabs. - bathtub tom

If, say, a rumour was started that these thing indicate the driver's gay, I wonder how many would disappear?

Illuminated decorations in lorry cabs. - Ordovices

Or how many more would appear?

Illuminated decorations in lorry cabs. - Snakey

A colleague of mine was pulled by plod before last Christmas as he had a small (i.e 3-4 inch) LED style Christmas tree on his dash, plugged into the cigarette lighter.

It was clipped to the air vents so not obviously visible outside the car, yet plod pulled him and told him to take it down. So they obviously do have time to waste on things like this when it suits them.

Illuminated decorations in lorry cabs. - davecooper
I was under the impression that this was actually how it started. In some foreign countries (possibly the Netherlands was one), this was how truck drivers could advertise their sexual leaning to other like minded truckers. I may be wrong of course!
Illuminated decorations in lorry cabs. - Manatee

I'm not a great advocate of banning things, but I can't believe that proscribing dangling mirror ornaments and air fresheners, lit up Christmas trees and other festive illuminations wouldn't be a good idea.

I don't really care what colour they are.