Inappropriate use of yellow strobe hazard lights.

2manyturbos

What is the legal situation regards using high powered flashing yellow strobes on a vehicle travelling the roads at night?

I had the misfortune of getting caught behind a recovery vehicle on narrow unlit roads near Ballymore. The truck had a car on the platform, tied down safe and legal. The car was smaller than the platform and nothing protruded beyond the outer truck body, which had the legal side flash reflectors and full working lights.

Yet for five miles I had to drive behind him in the pitch dark with two very high powered strobes blinding my vision.

In city streets this would be less of a distraction. The whole area is lit up, you can see all around. On pitch black roads this is extremely dangerous. It affects your night vision, aside from the annoying distraction.

The normal definition of these strobes is "hazard warning lights". This recovery truck was posing no hazard, so why is he entitled to drive with powerful strobes that blind other drivers? Ego trip, maybe? His truck was taking up no more road space than a breadvan you might meet on a winter's morning. The breadvan does not need hazard warning lights, so why would this recovery truck need them?

Exactly what constitutes a moving hazard?

Berty

Are you having a bad day perhaps?

I worked in construction and was often dazzled by my own flashing beacons because of the extreme darkness with only a yellow light arrogantly flashing in my face.

The recovery vehicle does not need to have its light flashing unless there is an overhang or there is a double stacked car, or one towed behind or its actually in the process of removing a car from the side of the road, thereby causing an obstruction.

Lets just add this to the list of things we would change if we were in power.

Saab Ed

Is there anything worse. I know we can probably throw this in with the incorrect use of fog lights and any other lights for that matter. Its so dangerous. Trucks with 4 spot lamps on the roof wired to the full beams is another one that gets me not to mention tractors with the rear facing work lights left on while traveling on the road pointed straight at my face.

Seth Brundle

I recall a discussion on boards about this very thing. IIRC, there was no legal allowance for them!

biko

Afaik anyone can use yellow lights to indicate hazard risk.

Yellows - foglights for trucks

2manyturbos

Berty wrote: »

Are you having a bad day perhaps?

I worked in construction and was often dazzled by my own flashing beacons because of the extreme darkness with only a yellow light arrogantly flashing in my face.

The recovery vehicle does not need to have its light flashing unless there is an overhang or there is a double stacked car, or one towed behind or its actually in the process of removing a car from the side of the road, thereby causing an obstruction.

Lets just add this to the list of things we would change if we were in power.

Thanks for the info. Is that the definitive situation? There has to be overhang?

All of the situations you describe I would accept, no quibble. The actual situation I described, the driver was creating a hazard because the strobe lights were way too bright and absolutely not necessary in the circumstances.

You might accuse me of having a bad day [you did, actually :rolleyes:] but I would point out there are a zillion threads and posts on here about the CORRECT use of fogs and spots and dips yadda yadda yadda. So what legislation is in place to insist that those involved in construction and road safety do no abuse their hazard lights to the detriment of other road users?

Same inappropriate use applies to digger drivers; lit up like a Christmas tree, and still feel the need to drive from A to B with strobes on. Maybe if they are such a hazard as they think they should be forced by law to move the vehicles by trailer from job to job. That would soften their cough.

Same old bully attitude applies of "might is right" I expect. "I'm bigger and heavier than you, and you wouldn't want to be running into me, would you mate?"

Who watches the watchers, and who safety trains the road safety, farming and construction people?

Seth Brundle

biko wrote: »

Afaik anyone can use yellow lights to indicate hazard risk.

Yellows - foglights for trucks

This is the thread I was thinking of (I was wrong anyhow):
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/archive/index.php/t-2054999553.html

Amber lights may be used on a breakdown vehicle, a road clearance vehicle, a road works vehicle, a vehicle used in the collection and disposal of refuse, a vehicle used in the provision or maintenance of telephone services or of gas or electricity supply and a Customs and Excise patrol vehicle.

I wonder is the truck the OP was behind a 'breakdown vehicle' under this SI?

TheNog

Common sense tells me strobes should be placed on the front and back of any recovery truck but used only when at the scene of an accident. When the recovery truck is actually driving then the softer roof lights (what are they called?) should be used.

AFAIK there is nothing in the RTAs to cover strobe lights and the use of them.


edit: just read Wishbourne Ash's post on the archived post. LOL'ed at the last sentence:

The Garda said that he didn't care what he had been told at any course and to switch it on.

2manyturbos

(c) In this sub-article -


‘breakdown vehicle’ means a mechanically propelled vehicle used for towing broken down mechanically propelled vehicles, trailers or semi-trailers to the nearest convenient place of safety or repair and includes a vehicle used in connection with and in the immediate vicinity of a breakdown;

“(9) Where a vehicle equipped with a lamp in accordance with article 52(18) is used in a public place, the lamp may only be used -


(a) if necessary in the circumstances, and


(b) in the case of a vehicle being used by the Irish Prison Service, where the vehicle is clearly identifiable as such by having appropriate livery, and is usable for the purpose of transporting prisoners under guard.”.

(ii) the power of the lamp where the colour of the light is -


(I) blue, shall not exceed 50 watts, and


(II) amber, shall not exceed 36 watts,

The above points are taken from the SI. 342/2006, so effectively this is "the Law" as it applies to flashing strobes.

Two points are important; the first is where it specifies the use of the lamps [amber strobes] needs to be "necessary" in the circumstances. As outlined in my original post because of size and euro markings and statutory lights, the flashing lights were totally unnecessary on this truck in this case. No more necessary than on a bread van. The word "necessary" is, unfortunately, open to interpretation by the user or observer.

The second point is the amber strobes may not exceed a power of 36 watts. This guy's lights were way too bright, I'm guessing at least 55w halogen, maybe more. I suppose if the guards are not going to pull half the country for illegal HIDs, there is not too much chance they will check what power of bulb these breakdown guys are using.:(