Can I Have Red and Blue Lights on My Bicycle

• #1

Birthday time, and I've been showered with bike lights from many directions; probably more than I could find room for on the Wisper, but I can always attach more to helmets, jackets, etc.

One that troubles me is a blue flashing light - not only is the lens blue, the filaments seem to be blue, too!

My instincts says this is probably illegal. Is it?

Allen.

• #2

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989
1989 No. 1796 - PART II - Regulation 16

Restrictions on fitting blue warning beacons, special warning lamps and similar devices
16. No vehicle, other than an emergency vehicle, shall be fitted with–

(a)a blue warning beacon or special warning lamp, or.
(b)a device which resembles a blue warning beacon or a special warning lamp, whether the same is in working order or not.

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989

• #3

Alright, it's a fair cop, guv.

Any suggestions as to what I could do with my nice blue flashing light? Christmas tree, maybe?

A

• #4

put it on the loudspeakers for your birthday party, as a modern eco-friendly version of the "fuzz light" from the 1970s disco scene

Oct 25, 2006

50,695

28,534

• #5

Is the actual light from it blue though?

Tungsten lamps give off a warm red biased light as anyone who takes a photograph indoors without colour correction realises when the shot turns out red all over. Less of a problem now with digital cameras having an automatic white balance, but a big problem in film days if flash was not used indoors.

Blue filtering through a tinted lens corrects the red bias and neutralises the colour bias of the light. For example it was common practice in film camera days to use coloured filters over a lens to correct such a bias.
.

• #6

It's blue.

It says Blue on the box.

My missus (who is not colour-blind) says it's blue.

I suppose the ultimate test would be to drive past the local nick making siren noises.

I shall put it on the Christmas tree, I think.

A.

Oct 25, 2006

50,695

28,534

• #7

No luck then. Some high priced modern cars have headlights with distinctly blue features visible in daylight, but giving a neutral light when on, and I was hoping your lamp might have that characteristic.

I shall put it on the Christmas tree, I think.

or gift wrap it, mark it Merry Xmas and pop it into the local nick!
.

• #8

Restrictions on fitting blue warning beacons, special warning lamps and similar devices
16. No vehicle, other than an emergency vehicle, shall be fitted with–

If you have other means of transport; eg a car that has broken down which you would normally use to pop down to the off-licence to stock up on gin for your good lady, then in an emergency you would have to use your Wisper. It would become an emergency vehicle and you would be entitled to fit the blue light to aid you on the journey and probably use the off-road switch as well.
For a very large fee I am prepared to defend you in court if the local constabulary attempt to prosecute, although I could not guarantee success if the magistrates find you guilty and refuses the right of appeal.

Colin
Bar-room Lawyer

• #9

The law states that you are not allowed to attach ANY colour of flashing light to a vehicle other than orange as this represents an emergency service vehicle.

However cyclists and pedestrians ARE allowed to attach any colour of flashing/strobe light including blue and red to their person.

Hope this helps.

• #10

The law states that you are not allowed to attach ANY colour of flashing light to a vehicle other than orange as this represents an emergency service vehicle.

The law was changed in 2005 to allow bicycles to use flashing lights.

The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 2005

(B.T.W. - The same set of amendments included one that allowed bicycles to be used as emergency vehicles, before that it was only motor vehicles that could use blue flashing lights.)

• #11

The law states that you are not allowed to attach ANY colour of flashing light to a vehicle other than orange as this represents an emergency service vehicle.

However cyclists and pedestrians ARE allowed to attach any colour of flashing/strobe light including blue and red to their person.

Hope this helps.

It helps, yusstay, but also broadens the confusion - because I take it that the offence of impersonating a police officer over-rides being allowed to have a blue flashing light stuck on my head.

I don't WANT to look like a policeman (although I have enormous sympathy and respect for them), but I do wear a yellow jacket for self-preservation while riding through the jungle of NW London, plus a helmet, plus black trousers (as it happens), and I am 'big looking' (although in the proverbial fight, the paper bag would definitely come off best).

But I do have a feeling that sticking a flashing blue light on the front of my bike might draw unwanted attention from the remnants of my local police force! I don't want to waste their time, and they might always look too closely at my unused off-road button...

Allen, Wisper 905, not a blue light in sight.

weaverbaraw1987.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/blue-lights-on-a-bike-doubtful.7199/