Plans to change warning lights
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• There is a growing amount of criticism that the current orange warning lights used by recovery vehicles are being ignored because too many other vehicles use them, such as motorway maintenance lorries.
It is almost certain that the law governing the use of flashing lights will change in the next 18 months. It is equally certain that blue will remain reserved for the emergency services, but there are three alternative options.
So what colours will be allowed? The AA and RAC are currently carrying out an independent study into the problem but so far have not identified a colour.
George Graham of Auto Recoveries, and a member of the At/HO standard safety committee, says the DETR is carrying out studies and that the most likely choice of light will be magenta. "This has a purplish appearance during the day but at night it looks red, and that is the colour most often associated with danger," he says.
Alex Taylor, secretary of the Road Rescue Recovery Association, agrees there will be a change in the law but suggests that red and yellow alternate flashing lights will be adopted.