Rear Spots wiring and legal

A poster stated blue lights give exemption from some traffic laws. All I did was point out this was wrong, and why. If someone claimed that all pajeros are built in Solihull people who knew otherwise would likely point that out.

You were the one who asked for clarification.

And yes, the law clearly states there are times when a private motorist can claim to be an emergency vehicle exempt from certain traffic laws, however that comes with its own risks being exempt from speeding and obeying red traffic lights does not mean the driver canoot be charged with other more serious offences. Just as the law states there are certain circumstances where a person who only has a licence to drive a moped (or even no licence of any kind) can drive a 60foot articulated truck on a public highway.

:hijacked::hijacked: :hijacked::hijacked: :hijacked::hijacked: :hijacked::hijacked:

Get a room u two

The basis of the blue light regs is that nobody can uses them except in an emergency as stated above. Anybody who can prove to a court that an emergency situation existed where either you can provide a emergecy service at your destination (e.g. fire engine, ambulance going to call out) or you are transporting a person in iminant danger of loss of life or limb to a point on sanctuary or help is alowed to use them.

The emphisis is on you to prove if you get reported to a court for using them that an emergecy situation exists.

Green lights are reserved for vechs carring a registered doctor, (not just GP's)

I have on occasion taken private cars out on blue lights when on the way to emergencies, but putting them on a landy is a bit of a joke as the chances of it ever getting up to enough speed to get to an emergency is about 0 - In fact i did have a sounder fitted to my landy (until some **** smashed it) and a magnetic blue/green light

jamescronin said:

The basis of the blue light regs is that nobody can uses them except in an emergency as stated above. Anybody who can prove to a court that an emergency situation existed where either you can provide a emergecy service at your destination (e.g. fire engine, ambulance going to call out) or you are transporting a person in iminant danger of loss of life or limb to a point on sanctuary or help is alowed to use them.

The emphisis is on you to prove if you get reported to a court for using them that an emergecy situation exists.

Click to expand...

see you've fallen into the same pit of ignorance that the other bloke was in

your implying that old Fred down the road who collects vintage fire appliances can break the RTA if he decides to turn out to a house fire - or Bill the window cleaner who thinks he'll be able to sort of a grass fire with his window cleaning bucket

and then there's that hippy couple who brought an old ambulance with the intention of turning it into a camper, yer that'll come in right handy when she's about to drop her 14th sprog - just shove her in the back of the van, turn on those old blue lights they got of ebay and away they go - happy days

the crucial term is "authorized in writing" - if you are in the employ of one of the emergency services, and are correctly qualified to do so you will have a legal right to drive those vehicles (for which you are qualified to do so) in response to emergency situations

it's very simple really

The problem is that it is not simple at all - it is simple if you belong to an authorised group (e.g. fire, police etc) when this 'authorised in writing' bit covers you all the time, but there are other situations when emergency situations apply.

The other point to note here is that for many years London Ambulance service were never actualy classed as an emergecny service at all but were never chalanged- i think this changed quite a long time ago now.

The other class of people who use them all the time are private ambulance services and charities who are not classed as emergency services etc. Thames ambulance service ( a charity, St Johns, private medical companies (what i have used them for in the past) etc) - They all don't break the law because they are trained and have qualifications to say that they are able to supply an emergecny service when they arrive. Freb with a bucket of water can not do any better job that sam who lives next door to the house on fire, while if fred was infact a trained fireman he would be able to offer a trained and qualified emergecy service - however if he was driving just his own car and there was nothing he could do when he got there then it would not be an emergecy situation he could use them for, however if he had a breathing apperatus in his boot, and somebody was traped then it would be a emergency situation, and he would be able to prove to a court that this was justified.

you do know that you really are being pedantic and inviting people to risk prosecution, simply because they are under the impression that they are responding to an emergency

just an example - a firefighter on day crewed rota fitted blues to his private vehicle, and used them while travelling to the station in response to a 2AM shout - (he was the appliance driver) - he was involved in a RTA (shared blame with other party) and was imprisoned for dangerous driving and a whole string of other related offences, and was dismissed from the service

it's simple - if you get away with it you get away with it - if you get caught ......

Just to throw somthing else in here,
I know a fellow with blue lights on his 109. he is a medical person and H& saftery person he is qualified in mostr emergency situations but it is his private vehicle

Dave has blue lights fitted to his 109 as does Alan,
Anglian LRC - Membership
I do not know the legalaties nor can I spell!

If i read correct when on fire patrol in the woods or on the way to the woods to see if there is a fire as a professional arborist i may use a blue light.

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Does that mean I can use em wen Im parked outside the chippey? (picking up a takeaway is an emergency int it?)