Green/blue & special lamps

[morsing]

Hi,

Can someone tell me what the latest edition of the RTA is? Googling suggests 1991, but I thought there were something later than that.

Also, there is a major road project going on outside my house, and all the diggers and machinery have suddenly been fitted with green flashing ligths. One even had red/blue flashing lights

The RTA I searched through clearly said they're not even allowed to have those fitted, I assume that has not changed in recent years?

Thanks

[RS3100]

Road Traffic Act 1988 is still the current primary legislation. Subsequent Acts only amend the primary Act AFAIR.

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 covers fitting and use of lights and warning beacons, again with numerous subsequent amendment regulations.

Green flashing lights on plant machinery indicate that the operator is wearing their seat belt. They have been introduced under Highways Agency health and safety standards for use on closed construction sites and road works within areas closed to normal road traffic. As such they are not subject to road traffic legislation, but they would constitute an offence against the Road Vehicles Lighting Regs if used whilst plant equipment is being driven on a road or used on a part of a road not coned off or otherwise closed to normal traffic.

Not sure about the other colours, but I expect they are being mandated to signal similar compliance or risk warnings. You might have noticed the various different coloured cones, cable trunking and site helmets that are also now in use.

[morsing]

Originally Posted by RS3100

[...]

Green flashing lights on plant machinery indicate that the operator is wearing their seat belt. They have been introduced under Highways Agency health and safety standards for use on closed construction sites and road works within areas closed to normal road traffic. As such they are not subject to road traffic legislation, but they would constitute an offence against the Road Vehicles Lighting Regs if used whilst plant equipment is being driven on a road or used on a part of a road not coned off or otherwise closed to normal traffic.

[...]

Ok, thanks for that. All very confusing and i seems, a bit unnecessary.

[RS3100]

Originally Posted by morsing

Ok, thanks for that. All very confusing and i seems, a bit unnecessary.

HA say on average 10 deaths and over 150 serious injuries result from digger operators failing to wear seat belts on roadworks sites each year. The lights presumably allow the site managers to identify non-compliance quickly and easily.

[DaveNP]

The red and blue lights are possibly similar to those now appearing on fork lift trucks, red lights at the sides projecting a line about 5ft from the truck as a pedestrian exclusion zone, blue lights at front and back to show which direction truck is traveling in and exclusion zone.
As RS3100 says if it's not a road open to the public RTA wouldn't apply, the roadworks on the motorways being separated from the traffic by a barrier have loads of diggers etc with multicoloured lights.

[DaveNP]

Originally Posted by RS3100

The lights presumably allow the site managers to identify non-compliance quickly and easily.

HINO trucks tried to get into the UK market a few years ago, being Japanese their trucks had three lights above the windscreen, apparently in Japan trucks have these lights to show their speed, 1=20kph ,2=40, 3=60, talk about making the traffic cops job easy!

[Dash300]

Originally Posted by RS3100

HA say on average 10 deaths and over 150 serious injuries result from digger operators failing to wear seat belts on roadworks sites each year. The lights presumably allow the site managers to identify non-compliance quickly and easily.

It would seem to make more sence to connect the seat belt switch to the ignition so the vehilcle will not start until the seat belt is worn.

[green van man]

On the road I have always regarded green flashing beacons as doctor in transit.
Confess I treat them the same as blue flashing beacons. I might be the poor bugger waiting for them one day, so get out their way.

Paul.

[DaveNP]

When you say 'Confess ..' it makes it sound like something to be ashamed of (and I'm sure you're not), I'm quite happy to say I'll make way for them, one day it may be me or mine they're coming to and even if I never know where they were going for the few seconds it may cost me it may change a life.