Its not illegal to fit blue the blue lights, turn them on....then it becomes illegal.
Its not illegal to fit blue the blue lights, turn them on....then it becomes illegal.
P
Paul_C
Not necessarily. And in some other cases, it's illegal to have them fitted, whether turned on or not.
If you have blue lights fitted and use them you are breaking the law, its simple. Unless of course you are driving an emergency vehicle, coast guard etc etc
So is the problem the colour of the lights or the fact they 'could' flash.???
For example if I fitted a Purple light on my roof (police style), Would I be nicked for having a purple light or the fact it can flash?????
For example if I fitted a Purple light on my roof (police style), Would I be nicked for having a purple light or the fact it can flash?????
P
Paul_C
There is a specific regulation against having fitted anything which is or resembles a blue emergency-vehicle beacon, whether it's turned on or not.
There is a general provision which says that no light may move or flash, other than those which are granted specific exceptions - Turn signals & hazard flashers, etc.
There is also another general regulation which says that no vehicle may display any color light to the rear but red, again with specific exceptions for signals, reversing lights, plate lights, and so on.
Finally, there is a regulation which says that you must not display a red light to the front of the vehicle. There is no specific prohibition on any other color on the front.
So any sort of flashing blue light is illegal. A steady blue light showing to the rear is also illegal, but a steady blue light showing to the front is not.
All in the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations for anyone who wants to read the actual legislation:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/contents/made
There is a general provision which says that no light may move or flash, other than those which are granted specific exceptions - Turn signals & hazard flashers, etc.
There is also another general regulation which says that no vehicle may display any color light to the rear but red, again with specific exceptions for signals, reversing lights, plate lights, and so on.
Finally, there is a regulation which says that you must not display a red light to the front of the vehicle. There is no specific prohibition on any other color on the front.
So any sort of flashing blue light is illegal. A steady blue light showing to the rear is also illegal, but a steady blue light showing to the front is not.
All in the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations for anyone who wants to read the actual legislation:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/contents/made
L
LooPrEvil
I use to have a Volvo. It had two bulbs for each rear road light (red) as a safety feature.
One side only had one of the two bulbs operating. It failed the MOT.
One side only had one of the two bulbs operating. It failed the MOT.
A guy in Nottingham years ago had a Yankee Black and White Police cruiser..He got stopped and cautioned for having the red roof lights fitted even though they didn't work.
Been for an MOT myself today...One wiper blade and it flew through...made my day..
Been for an MOT myself today...One wiper blade and it flew through...made my day..
Ive just made some rough calculations.
If an MOT tester charges £55 for an MOT, and its completed in a busy garage in 20mins each car, then that means his takings based on a 10hr working day, six days a week would be £16,500 per week.
Less the fees to the Ministry and overheads, it seems quite a lucrative enterprise.
If an MOT tester charges £55 for an MOT, and its completed in a busy garage in 20mins each car, then that means his takings based on a 10hr working day, six days a week would be £16,500 per week.
Less the fees to the Ministry and overheads, it seems quite a lucrative enterprise.
L
LooPrEvil
They wish!! You are excluding lunch hour, and assuming 10 MOT Testers as well!
The profit comes from the repairs, not from the Test.
J
joinerjohn
Have to agree Loo. My present car had the water pump go. Asked a local garage ,how much to replace the w/pump. They got back to me recommending that the cam belt was replaced at the same time (good advice). Water pump £55 +vat, Cam belt £88 +vat. Fitting £240 labour.
I managed to buy a brand new water pump for £22 inc vat and a cam belt kit for £38 inc vat and delivery. Chap round the corner who repairs cars etc charged only £80 labour. I also gave him the address of the place I got the cam belt kit from as it was a bit cheaper than he could get them for. Dropped the car off on Saturday morning 9 o clock, and he rang me at lunchtime saying the car was ready.
Garages are a total rip off. Years ago, my dad had a Ford Cortina Mk2 and I changed the gearbox, clutch, brake shoes and pads. Done the cylinder head gasket, changed the master cylinder for the brakes and clutch. Track rod ends , etc etc. Cars were so much simpler and easier to work on back in the 70's .
I managed to buy a brand new water pump for £22 inc vat and a cam belt kit for £38 inc vat and delivery. Chap round the corner who repairs cars etc charged only £80 labour. I also gave him the address of the place I got the cam belt kit from as it was a bit cheaper than he could get them for. Dropped the car off on Saturday morning 9 o clock, and he rang me at lunchtime saying the car was ready.
Garages are a total rip off. Years ago, my dad had a Ford Cortina Mk2 and I changed the gearbox, clutch, brake shoes and pads. Done the cylinder head gasket, changed the master cylinder for the brakes and clutch. Track rod ends , etc etc. Cars were so much simpler and easier to work on back in the 70's .
No I was basing it on the hypothetical one man band scenario. The figures speak for themselves surely?
As for the repairs.........that opens up a whole new can of worms
Take your car to a Council test centre where they test the taxis, council vehicles etc.
They are obliged to test private vehicles aswell. The bonus is they dont carry out repairs so have no reason to find faults to mark up the cost. A garage may well find a fault to make the money.
They are obliged to test private vehicles aswell. The bonus is they dont carry out repairs so have no reason to find faults to mark up the cost. A garage may well find a fault to make the money.
G
geraint
Alarm";p="2107755 said:Hazzard lights
Get it right folks
PS I help build Trikes and other silly things.
Another way would be If it was "Q" Plated. Undetermined year of manufacture.[/quot
Q plated is an import... and still have to have an MOT...
I
imamartian
thanks for that.
The downside is that they are probably more stringent (or more skilled) than your average garage and will find lots more?
