Amber Beacons & Lightbars - The law & Regulations for use
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- čas přidán 13. 09. 2024
- In this video I try my best to explain the law and touch upon the Chapter 8 Regulation 65 Compliance for vehicle mounted beacons & lightbars.
WITH THE GREATEST AND UPMOST RESPECT
I AM UNABLE TO CONTINUE TO CONSTANTLY ANSWER SOME OF THE MOST BASIC QUESTIONS AS I TOUCH UPON THE REGULATIONS OF USE AND APPLICATION ALOT WITHIN THIS VIDEO IF YOU LISTEN TO ALL I SAY.
COMMON SENSE AND JUDGEMENT IS KEY TO UNDERSTAND THE NARRATIVE AND CONTEXT
Also the use of directional beacons & why not to buy cheap poorly made beacons.
REGULATION 65 CHAPTER 8 GUIDANCE - CONTEXT
lightbaruk.co....
DISCLAIMER: The information within this video is quoted from the law and compliance guide breakdown, I am also speaking from what I know from my own use and opinion.
ALL OF THE LIGHTING SHOWN WITHIN THIS VIDEO IS PAID FOR
The large magnetic beacon shown within my video is available from Lightbar UK in two versions magnetic & bolt on, Two lens variations & power options
www.lightbaruk...
The windscreen suction mounted beacon shown within the video is available from Beacons & Lightbars
www.beaconsand...
The two above companies are both highly recommended and have faultless customer service.
Equipment used to record this video
Camera used is the Sony DSCHX60
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The video light used is the Godox LED 64
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The Microphone used is the BOYA BY-M1
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The audio recorder used is the Tascam DR-05
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If you have any questions regarding the contents of this video please feel free to comment below,
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THANKS FOR WATCHING
Thanks for this video .. just what I needed to find out 👍
Many thanks for your kind words. If you have any questions no matter how silly they sound I'll happily help you. Austin
Amazing vid and also to add is farming vehicles that are being escorted that is leagal as long as you don’t use it like a police or Emergency response units
If your in a tractor then beacons should be fitted and in use when on the road. If in a landrover escorting a combine or Bateman sprayer for example then yes.
Very informative and useful video. Thanks Austin
Thanks for watching Dave
Thank you for the information 👍🏻
No problem 👍
Thanks for the informational video, I own the Amber lensed version of the Mini LED Lightbar (magnetic) and I usually use it for offroad/private land purposes such as private security in various locations. A thought had crossed my mind as I watched your video and it was this: "Can I use my amber light bar on a public road should I come upon a crash or something else dangerously blocking the road to warn other road users?"
Your thoughts on this? whenever I've come across an accident or stopped to remove debris from the road like fallen tree branches (mostly removing tree branches as I live in an are where they regularly fall to the road) I've always just put on my hazard lights and left my mini light bar in the boot.
You can use any Amber beacon on a highway but regulations are in place to provide a standardised light output for visibility reasons such as Chapter 8 regulation 65. If you are static or traveling at a lesser speed than other road users it's key your presence is known. Also you technically require by law that your beacons are visible from a 360 radius from your vehicle so meaning a minimum of two beacons if yours isn't able to be seen from the front rear and sides etc
I work on the highway delivering heavy materials by crane, my beacons have stopped working and my company is in no rush to fix them as they deem them not essential and in no rush to fix them! Whats your thoughts
In short, if you are working outside of "normal" highways activities, then they are essential, and your company are not working within the legalities of Chaper 8 reg 65
I use amber only, for stops at freeway or highway and streets, to help people or i use them when I’m stop on the side
I really hate how these straight to garbage products are allowed to be imported and used (not for very long obviously) undermines everyone trying to do a proper job
Good Useful video and great discussion points
Thank you Ian
Im a medical responder and Ive come across may RTCs while off duty when I do stop at one would I need to have the beacons on my personal vehicle aswell?
Simple answer is yes if on the highway and your vehicle is static or operating outside of normal traffic flow
Definitely worth ensuring all beacons are R65 compliant- big difference to ECE 10 versions. Also need to be aware that not all flash patterns are R65 compliant on R65 units
Very valid and clear points 👏
Im a gas engineer. Can i install an amber lights in my van .
@iraqviva7670 it depends on your work activities based upon the guidance notes of chapter 8 regulation 65
It's not a case of bolt some beacons on a van. If you are working on a live carriageway where your work differs from the environment around you. Working from your van if your vehicle is likely to pose a risk to other motorists or pedestrians, etc
Then, when working on a live carriageway, there's also the legislation where a vehicle requires two-tone prismatic reflective batternburg vinyl
If you're a self-employed sole trader, you need to look at the big utility companies like British Gas, Wales & West, national grid, open reach etc and see if your practices of work match theirs as they follow chapter 8 by the word.
Hope that helps. The legislation is long worded, but I know all of it as I've read it, and you can have some many variables
Kind regards Austin
My amber beacons/COB LEDs are pretty bright, however these new Police Volvo's we have around Manchester now are super bright. What is the difference? Can I get amber beacons as bright as police blues? What power are they?
Most of the police are using 3rd generation piranha variant led modules made by Premier hazard / code 3 Reg 65 Class 2 and the output is actually magnified by using collimator lens technology which replaced their previous strobe bulb units which drained their batteries when holding road closures or attending RTC's the brightest beacons in Amber are Chapter 8 regulation 65 at a predefined flash pattern. You won't find anything bright with COB and nothing available of quality on ebay or amazon.
How much money do you want to spend?
The main manufacturers are
Premier hazard
MoFlash
Britax
Code 3
Interesting. Just subscribed to your channel.
Thank you for your support
Hi mate I use my car sometimes for work, I just wondered if there’s any laws about have a orange beacon on the roof as my cars not sign written or anything ?
Good evening, simple answer, any tom dick or Harry can have and use a beacon, you don't need to apply with regulation 65 chapter 8 unless your working on a live road or motorway, however you need a beacon that is bright and reliable to be safe & Seen
Good morning, I have a Mercedes Sprinter wheelchair accessible vehicle getting in and out on a lift. Now people are oblivious to the lift coming out. Would I be able to use the internal screen ones when the doors open? Also the back windows on the Sprinter they are tinted. Any advice?
Good morning. Tinted windows reduce light in and out of a vehicle so any internal lights wouldn't be legal in respect of their output as the light wouldn't be as vibrant to that of the test parameters.
So what would you suggest for something that the moment I open/operate the back doors and lower the wheelchair lift. Reason I ask, I have had twats reversing into my wheelchair, once both myself and the 300kg wheelchair went flying off the lift thank you to twats who are oblivious
My best Advice would be to install two rear bumper mounted beacons and a high level roof beacon so that people can see from the rear
As a regular citizen (not working on the roads), are there any rules prohibiting me fitting yellow lights to my car?
Firstly why would you need one and secondly if you're not using the highway for work then you don't need one.
@@AW-Services I tow (fairly large) boats fairly often, so would just give me some piece of mind
Get yourself a lap electrical Reg 65 chapter 8 beacon as within the video mag mount
Also your alowed to have a traffic advisor for if you pull off the road for any reason @AW-Services
Question... I have a lwb Sprinter van and occasionally need to block the road when loading/unloading. I have amber LED light bar that I want to mount on the roof. Would this be better to the front or rear of the roof?
Good evening. Its best at the rear of the vehicle as the rear is often higher and can be seen from both directions. Most water board and utilities vans actually use brackets to make it stand slightly higher. Hope that helps
Are these legal on your personal car? I go to stuff like car meets and park on the side of roads and watch the cars going up and down, I want to fit my car up with beacons for when I’m on the road side. I do roadside recovery and I don’t like to be in a hard shoulder at night time without beacons.
There's plenty of guidance notes and easily accessible published documentation on Chapter 8 regulation 65. The video pretty much answers your question with the practice of use
Quick question. As a window cleaner who has jobs on roads where we have workers in vulnerable areas is it legal to have this on my van and can i just have the stribes fitted to the bumoers or do i have to have the roof beacons as well? Can't find any info anywhere
According to highways regulations I'd advise you to get some high quality regulation 65 chapter 8 beacons as it could null and void your PLI if working on the highway or roadside
Strobes are okay however high positioned beacons are seen from a greater distance and also be mindful if you have roof bars, ladders then a beacon on roof level needs to clear them and be visible from a 360 radius of the vehicle
@@AW-Services I feel a beacon may be a bit overkill but i will take it under consideration. Are there regulations for strobes for the grill and bumpers as well?
Chapter 8 reg 65 states that two visible beacons must be used. Do as you feel safe, I personally am not accountable and it's worth reading the regulations to ensure you are working legally and safely
@@AW-Services I take the point, I'll have a look into it and i apriciate the help
I have led lighting i have chapter 8. And work on the roads
What's your email i can send you a video make sure im legal if that OK
If you are unsure it should have either a label or R10/R65 embossed marking on it.
It will be quicker for you just to upload your video clip to your channel as emails use so much file size
Just use purple lights and they'll think you're in a funeral procession !! 😂
We don't have pretend funeral police and purple lights in the UK
That's too bad !! ✌😎
Hi there ould higly apreciate if anyone can help me. I'm a locksmith in London, often have to kinda park the car on the road similar next to legal parking in the middle of the night. I run an Ltd company, fully legal and I'm curios if I can put one of this amber beacon light in London. Many thanks.
All the answers have been covered and the guidance is available to read reference regulation 65 chapter 8
@@AW-Services I realy appreciate I'm dyslexic and it's difficult with letters they all move around. I really appreciate all your content. In short words can I do it or not?
Yes providing you don't buy a cheap beacon. I'm dyslexic also
@@AW-Services u a legend mate. CZcams and people like you make my life possible.
I was about to ask the same question :) im alos dyslexic and have ADHD lol ! to add to the question. I sometimes have to attend to houses or vehicles on narrow country roads where there isnt much choice for parking and also I get called up by ambulance service and the police to enter peoples home on their behalf. would it be permissible to have flashing amber lights inside the grill and windscreens while attending emergency locksmith jobs? AW Services your videos and knowledge is great please advise ?
Thank you
anyone who can help me with this, much appreciated. For project/fun only, is it legal to fit a car out with Blue lights if it's on Private land? Not a drive way like a good 10 acres
Unless you are in film or TV production then no is the simple answer as the use of blue beacons is illegal as they impersonate emergency services or give a false representation
Just to add.
Unless you are a registered and qualified event first aid team or event only fire and rescue such as much concert, banger stock car racing or film production fire support are the only legal use requirements
@@AW-Services ah thanks you
Do you live in the states ? Most states allow you to use any color beacon light if you are on private land. They frown on that t if you are on the highway.
@@Terk131 Unfortunately not, I live in the United Kindgdom. The laws here suck.
@@ht-ve9fe Gotcha
Can I have orange strobes on a pickup when towing a trailer (more for night time) have had it a lot where people nearly take the trailer out because they don’t notice it. Can find anything online. Got top beacon and grill and bumper strobes.
You can only fit beacons to a vehicle but not a trailer
@@AW-Services great cheers for that. Can I have solid amber side lights on the trailer (not flashing)
@@jackmercer1932 read up on trailer widths and towing compliance. Adding additional auxiliary lighting to a trailer may give false indication or directional signalling
Hi , I run a Animal Ambulance and need to warn drivers if and when there is a animal emergency and I need to do urgent medical treatment on the animal and I need to warn drivers so I'm just wondering if I can have and show a flashing amber lightbar or amber beacon on the vehicle roof !
Hello Stephen, the short answer is No, as you are not an emergency services vehicle travelling faster than the traffic around you, or it will not give you an advantage over other vehicles as it's only Amber. In theory, you are seen as no different from a taxi or courier, unfortunately. Austin