Discussion:
LED Valve Caps on Cars, are they legal
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‹(•¿•)› BORG
2005-05-20 11:45:04 UTC
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seen quite a few places selling these LED valve caps that light up at
night but are they legal. I have seen nothing to say they are not
legal but a mate says they are now. I thought as long as you don't
display a blue flashing light it's OK to use them.
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a
2005-05-21 10:45:06 UTC
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Post by ‹(•¿•)› BORG
seen quite a few places selling these LED valve caps that light up at
night but are they legal. I have seen nothing to say they are not
legal but a mate says they are now. I thought as long as you don't
display a blue flashing light it's OK to use them.
http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/faq/default.asp?Action=Q&ID=477
m***@emgee.demon.co.uk
2005-05-21 13:00:07 UTC
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Post by a
Post by ‹(•¿•)› BORG
seen quite a few places selling these LED valve caps that light up at
night but are they legal. I have seen nothing to say they are not
legal but a mate says they are now. I thought as long as you don't
display a blue flashing light it's OK to use them.
http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/faq/default.asp?Action=Q&ID=477
I read it basically though all it says is "take your chances sonny but if
you break tha law we'll nick you". Which is fair enough but doesn't really
answer the OPs question.
‹(•¿•)› BORG
2005-05-21 12:45:03 UTC
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Post by a
Post by ‹(•¿•)› BORG
seen quite a few places selling these LED valve caps that light up at
night but are they legal. I have seen nothing to say they are not
legal but a mate says they are now. I thought as long as you don't
display a blue flashing light it's OK to use them.
http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/faq/default.asp?Action=Q&ID=477
Interesting thanks
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Alasdair Baxter
2005-05-21 17:10:05 UTC
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Post by a
http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/faq/default.asp?Action=Q&ID=477
Most interesting. Does that mean I can fit two blue "beacons" on the
roof of my car, one at the front and one at the back? Each would only
swing through 180 degrees and therefore neither would be a "beacon"
within the definition given in regulation 16. Neither would they be
flashing lights as only the reflector would swing through 180 degrees.

I wonder how Thames Valley Police would react to that?
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"It's not what you say that matters but how you say it.
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Kay
2005-05-22 05:35:05 UTC
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I was thinking the exact same thing (although I'm not even tempted to try
it)!!
And also two blue lights on the front grille, steady, not flashing or
dazzling ? Or just a blue, non rotating, light on the roof?
Post by Alasdair Baxter
Post by a
http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/faq/default.asp?Action=Q&ID=477
Most interesting. Does that mean I can fit two blue "beacons" on the
roof of my car, one at the front and one at the back? Each would only
swing through 180 degrees and therefore neither would be a "beacon"
within the definition given in regulation 16. Neither would they be
flashing lights as only the reflector would swing through 180 degrees.
I wonder how Thames Valley Police would react to that?
--
Alasdair Baxter, Nottingham, UK.Tel +44 115 9705100; Fax +44 115 9423263
"It's not what you say that matters but how you say it.
It's not what you do that matters but how you do it"
john boyle
2005-05-22 22:10:16 UTC
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Post by Alasdair Baxter
Post by a
http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/faq/default.asp?Action=Q&ID=477
Most interesting. Does that mean I can fit two blue "beacons" on the
roof of my car, one at the front and one at the back? Each would only
swing through 180 degrees and therefore neither would be a "beacon"
within the definition given in regulation 16. Neither would they be
flashing lights as only the reflector would swing through 180 degrees.
I wonder how Thames Valley Police would react to that?
I think Thames valley are incorrect for the following reasons :

1) Round my neck of the woods all the emergency services use strobe
lights to some extent. They dont rotate at all.

2)
http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_21.htm#nsch16requiremen
trelatingobligatoryoptionalwarningbeacon

This link is the main point I think. There is no 'rotate' requirement at
all, just a maximum and minimum flashing rate and a requirement that "at
least one beacon (but not necessarily the same beacon) shall be visible
from any point at a reasonable distance from the vehicle or any trailer
being drawn by it"

This is an old regulation (1989) which I would have thought would have
been amended many times just to take account of modern technology but
whilst I can find a number of amendments I cant find anything that
alters this bit.
--
John Boyle
Paul Cummins
2005-05-21 12:40:04 UTC
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Post by ‹(•¿•)› BORG
seen quite a few places selling these LED valve caps that light up at
night but are they legal. I have seen nothing to say they are not
legal but a mate says they are now.
I have amber lights on my Bike valve-stems. They light up amber, and
show vehicles to my left and right where I am.

Police say 'legal'
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Wasting Bandwidth since 1981

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‹(•¿•)› BORG
2005-05-21 15:35:04 UTC
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Post by Paul Cummins
Post by ‹(•¿•)› BORG
seen quite a few places selling these LED valve caps that light up at
night but are they legal. I have seen nothing to say they are not
legal but a mate says they are now.
I have amber lights on my Bike valve-stems. They light up amber, and
show vehicles to my left and right where I am.
Police say 'legal'
That's what I was thinking, I was going to put them on my Trike as a
safety aid to blind car drivers. Except mine are green. But there's no
mention of green being a no no colour and its not shown to the front
or rear. I'll print that out and see what happens if I get stopped.
I'll just hand them the print out and see what they say to it.
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Goromoff
2005-05-21 18:05:08 UTC
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Post by ‹(•¿•)› BORG
Post by Paul Cummins
Post by ‹(•¿•)› BORG
seen quite a few places selling these LED valve caps that light up at
night but are they legal. I have seen nothing to say they are not
legal but a mate says they are now.
I have amber lights on my Bike valve-stems. They light up amber, and
show vehicles to my left and right where I am.
Police say 'legal'
That's what I was thinking, I was going to put them on my Trike as a
safety aid to blind car drivers. Except mine are green. But there's no
mention of green being a no no colour and its not shown to the front
or rear. I'll print that out and see what happens if I get stopped.
I'll just hand them the print out and see what they say to it.
My wife has just got herself a pretty little car, fitted with those
flashing lights on the hub caps, that come on when the car shakes (as over
bumps). The car went through the MOT with no problem.

The car is also fitted with green sidelights. The local traffic plod say
these are quite legal, although the MOT rules say thay the car cannot pass
the MOT with them fitted!
Adrian
2005-05-26 19:10:06 UTC
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Post by Goromoff
My wife has just got herself a pretty little car, fitted with those
flashing lights on the hub caps, that come on when the car shakes (as
over bumps).
(I'll resist comments on the taste angle)
Post by Goromoff
The car went through the MOT with no problem.
Doesn't mean they're legal, though - it just means they're not something
that'll fail the MOT (which is a tightly defined subset of the
Construction & Use regs)
Post by Goromoff
The car is also fitted with green sidelights.
(I'm finding this ever more difficult, but I shall resist)
Post by Goromoff
The local traffic plod say these are quite legal,
Vague.
<http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_3.htm#(Tii)
iicolourlightshownlampreflector> seems not to say they're illegal.
"11. (1) No vehicle shall be fitted with a lamp which is capable of
showing a red light to the front, except-
(a) a red and white chequered domed lamp, or a red and white segmented
mast-mounted warning beacon, fitted to a fire service control vehicle
and intended for use at the scene of an emergency;
(b) a side marker lamp or a side retro reflector;
(c) retro reflective material or a retro reflector designed primarily
to reflect light to one or both sides of the vehicle and attached to or
incorporated in any wheel or tyre of-
(i) a pedal cycle and any sidecar attached to it;
(ii) a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination; or
(iii) an invalid carriage; or
(d) a traffic sign."

But I suspect you'd be stuffed by the lack of an E-mark on the green
bulb, if the car was first registered after 1/4/86.
Post by Goromoff
although the MOT rules say thay the car cannot pass the MOT with them
fitted!
Yep, because the MOT regs say that a white light must be shown - as do
C&U.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_110.htm
"Reason for Rejection - 3. a. A front position lamp shows a light other
than white to the front, (or yellow if incorporated in a yellow
headlamp)"

"Any additional position lamps are optional and are not included in the
inspection."

Nobody
2005-05-21 19:00:05 UTC
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Post by ‹(•¿•)› BORG
That's what I was thinking, I was going to put them on my Trike as a
safety aid to blind car drivers. Except mine are green. But there's no
mention of green being a no no colour and its not shown to the front
or rear. I'll print that out and see what happens if I get stopped.
I'll just hand them the print out and see what they say to it.
I think green are reserved for medics
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