What's the legality of flashing brake lights?

[airborne]

Just spotted the flashing LED brake light on Nippy Norman's site.

I'm all for hi-vis but would I be likely to get pulled over by our friends with pretty-coloured roof racks?

Pic from NN site:

 

[Bert]

flashing...

red is illegal-
Perfect though if you enjoy being interviewed by our friends in Blue (in UK) or green where that bike seems to come from

 

[GlynnJ]

Bert, I notice that NN also sells the front light 'modulator'. Is that illegal here too?

GlynnJ

 

[Paul Narramore]

Yes - unless you drive/ride an emergency services vehicle. (Or, like me, buy an ex-emergency services vehicle and don't get the modulator disconnected ;-)

 

[airborne]

Thanks chaps

I guess it's better to go for the standard LED one then.

 

[MikeP]

I doubt that you would get much of a reaction. Perhaps a verbal warning or a VDRS to get the light replaced.

The Road Vehicle Lighting Regs did not foresee such things when they were drawn up.

The current E60 BMW 5 series has LED lights that increase intensity as the driver increases brake pressure. When the E60 was first launched this was disabled because the Regs didn't allow for it. Type Approval Regs and RV Lighting Regs have been ammended to allow them now.

Hazard Warning Lights. When they were first introduced it was an offence to use them while the vehicle was in motion. The practice of using them to signal stationary traffic etc on fast roads was seen to be beneficial. No-one to my knowledge was ever prosecuted for doing so. It then became obvious that it was good practice so the Regs were changed to allow them to be used as advanced warning on National Speed Limmit Dual carriageways and Motorways.

Flashing red means stop in the lane displaying the red flashing light until the light goes out. It is used for rail crossings and Motorway lane controls.

Maybe flashing brake lights will be seen as a safety feature. My only concern would be just how annoying they might be when you were sat behind someone at traffic lights etc with a foot on the brake!

 

[birdseye]

Nobody seems to bother about flashing white and red lights on pedal cycles and my guess is that they are subject to the same basic rules.

So as long as you do nothing to irritate plod, or he's not had a bad day etc, you should be OK. If any of the above situations apply, there's bound to be something he can do you for anyway.

 

[Dutchman]

Nobody seems to bother about flashing white and red lights on pedal cycles and my guess is that they are subject to the same basic rules.......

Pedal cycles are not subject to the Motor Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regs........

Met a Lothian & Borders traffic officer socially earlier today & posed the original questions above......

He has no doubt that any motorcycle displaying such lights would get a tug, issued with a rectification notice etc......

A general rule of thumb with these things is 'would it pass an MOT test?''

A resounding 'No' is the answer......

There is also the question of the vendor's liability unless he clearly quotes on the advertisement AND the invoice the words 'not for road use'.

The BMW car brake lights entioned above are not quite the same in that the intensity increases with braking pressure, the bike lights advertised just flash when the brakes are applied......

Personally I wouldn't touch these lights with a bargepole......

Cheers

Dutch

 

[Alphason]

A mate of mine removed the flashing rear lamp he'd fitted when he found that other vehicles were pulling up close behind him to get a closer look! Not the safest accessory available

 

[nadeem]

Just spotted the flashing LED brake light on Nippy Norman's site.

I'm all for hi-vis but would I be likely to get pulled over by our friends with pretty-coloured roof racks?

Pic from NN site:

erm...that picture just shows the brake in the two positions - brake & stop - the brake led doesn't keep flashing - I have one.

 

[swebb]

Also, providing the light at NO stage is off alltogether (even for a millisecond) then actually i think it may be legal, as i'm sure the regulations state the light must be on at all times.... if the light remains on at all times, but the pattern/intensity changes, i think it's "legal" to the letter of the law....

HOWEVER... as per the other posts, i also think, legal or not, you'll get pulled at every opportunity, and it would cause you a lot of grief....

not worth the bother if it does constantly flash, but if like previous posting, the pic shows two alternate states.... i think it looks great !!!!

 

[birdseye]

Yes, apparently flashing brake lights are illegal, including those that cyclists use - not that anyone seems to bother them whether they have lights or not.

lights

 

[JayGee]

I'm with Dutch on this on. illegal and a pain when it comes to MOT time. It's like asking to be pulled over as it's totally unnecessary. Also don't get fixated with the danger of rear shunts the vast majority of bike incidents are frontal (as high as 90% according to the recent MAIDS study).
Also flashing high intensity lights are a real nuisance to anyone behind especially if you cover the brake when stationary in traffic, at lights etc.
Obviously just my opinion but if you've got nothing else to spend the 59 quid on then send it to me

 

[LOLGEOFF]

Forget Nippy Norman.

Try the Lidl approach.....

Just disconnect the earth lead for the rear lights and it will do it every time you use the indicators.

HTH

 

[Mike Peers]

Re: Re: What's the legality of flashing brake lights?

erm...that picture just shows the brake in the two positions - brake & stop - the brake led doesn't keep flashing - I have one.

That's what I thought too Nadeem???!!!

 

[JayGee]

Re: Re: What's the legality of flashing brake lights?

erm...that picture just shows the brake in the two positions - brake & stop - the brake led doesn't keep flashing - I have one.

Thanks for the info, just shows we have all been talking out of our a***s, perhaps we should be fitted with flashing red rear ends.