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Flashing light While thinking of, recovery vehicle equipment, the provisions
Page 51
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of the law concerning the amber flashing light should be considered. Regulation 45 of the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1964 permits the fitting of these lamps. They must be fitted not less than 5ft from the ground and as near as possible on the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The bulb must not be more than 36w and the flash rate between 60 and 150 times per minute. What does not seem to be generally appreciated. is that these lamps can only be legally used while the breakdown vehicle is "being used in connection with, and in the immediate vicinity of an accident or breakdown".
It would seem that their use is intended to warn other motorists of an unusual obstruction at the scene of the accident or breakdown and not to facilitate the movement of the breakdown lorry through heavy traffic on the way to the breakdown or to warn of the unusual length of the vehicle train when the disabled vehicle is being towed back to base.
Spotlights to illuminate the scene of the breakdown may also be fitted. These may be moved by swivelling or deflecting while the vehicle is in motion in the immediate vicinity of the accident or breakdown and can only be used while the amber flashing light discussed in the previous paragraph is in use.
Next week I hope to deal with the towing of artics and other aspects of the law dealing with breakdowns.