Legislation on safety signalling on vehicles

In this blog you will read:

• What rules apply to the use of optical safety signalling on vehicles, such as beacons, LED warning lights and work lights with a warning light function.
• Practical examples by vehicle type and time of deployment, so you can easily determine which class best suits your application.

Regulations beacons/flasher lights

From the ECE Regulations, flashing and strobe lights must comply with the R65 regulations. This is divided into class 1 and class 2.

ECE R65 Class 1: These lights are designed for use in darkness, where lower intensity prevents glare. ECE R65 Class 2: This more powerful lighting is suitable for both day and night use. Thanks to an automatic dimming function, it meets lower intensity requirements at night. For a detailed comparison and technical specifications, see our specialist page on ECE R65 Class 2.

Do you work exclusively in dark conditions? Then class 1 is sufficient. Do you work both day and night? Then choose a dimmable class 2 light. That way you are flexible and within the permissible light values.

Which class fits which vehicle type

When can signal lights be used?

The European directive prescribes the following:

For optical signal lights such as flashing lights, beacons or light bars to be allowed on a vehicle on public roads, three key conditions must be met.

The right certification

ECE R65 - This standard determines whether the warning lamp complies with minimum and maximum light values, light distribution, visibility angle and colouring.
Only lights with a clear E mark (e.g. E9 R65) are allowed.

ECE R10 - This standard guarantees that the warning lamp does not cause interference to the vehicle electronics and is itself insensitive to interference.

Correct installation

To operate legally and safely, warning lights must:

• All-round visibility (360° for a flashing light)
• Be visibleat a height of approx. 1.5 m at a distance of 20 m (according to R65 test conditions)
• Not be obstructed by surface mounting, roof accessories or load if necessary supplemented by additional lights to achieve full coverage

If a vehicle does not have a clear visibility circle due to surface mounting or accessories, adjust the installation or install additional units.

Compliance with national rules of use

In addition to the technical requirements, national rules of use apply.
Here, there are sometimes different regulations per country.

Mounting regulations - 360-degree visibility

360-degree visibility for beacons means that the light is clearly visible to other road users from all angles. This increases road safety by ensuring that the vehicle is properly noticed in all situations.

A beacon / flashing light must be fitted to the vehicle in such a way that the warning signal is recognisable from any position at a distance of 25 metres. If this is not possible, additional warning systems (additional flashing lights or strobe lights) should be fitted to the vehicle.

Good example: The image above shows that when a flashing light/flash lamp is mounted 4 metres high on a vehicle, a person 1.80 metres tall will see the light beams emanating from the light (at an angle of -8 degrees) from a distance of 15.7 metres from the vehicle.

Wrong example: The image above shows that the warning light is not recognisable from every direction. This is because in the area of the lifting crane, the warning operation is interrupted. In this case, an additional warning light must be fitted either at the back of the vehicle or on the vehicle cabin.

During operations, if vehicle components such as cargo, loading cranes, wind catchers or the tailgate obstruct the view of the flashing lights, it is necessary to install additional flashing lights or additional warning lights.

The mounting of the lighting set must also be such that the light signal can be seen from a perimeter of 20 metres around the entire vehicle, and from a height of 1.5 metres above the road surface.

What if you are not carrying approved signal lighting?

The use of non-certified signal lights can pose several risks and dangers, both in terms of safety and legal liability. Should an accident occur, it may be subject to inspection.

Using orange beacons on public roads

Orange(amber) beacons and warning lights are essential for warning fellow road users of vehicles that pose a potential danger on public roads or that are driving slowly. Across Europe, these signals indicate a special situation, but do not generally give right of way.

Read all the ins and outs in our blog on the rules concerning orange beacons .

Using blue beacons on public roads

The use of blue beacons and flashers is strictly reserved throughout Europe for vehicles with a priority, urgent task, such as rescue services, police and ambulance.

In our blog may you have blue beacons you can read all the ins and outs.

Minor differences at national level

Although ECE-approved signal lights fully comply with Italian legislation, additional operational requirements apply in specific situations. This is particularly the case for exceptional transport, technical escorts and civil protection, where there are requirements for mounting height, visibility and additional signalling such as reflective signs or flags.
These rules are set out in the Codice della Strada - Article 10 (Exceptional transport) and Article 153 (Lighting and signalling), as well as in the Regolamento di Esecuzione - Article 38.

Germany

Although ECE-approved signal lights comply with German legislation, as laid down in § 52 of the Straßenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung (StVZO), additional guidelines may apply in practice. This plays out especially in applications such as exceptional transport, road management or civil protection. Consider additional requirements for mounting height, visibility or additional signalling. If in doubt, contact the local traffic authorities or a TÜV body for specific applications.

UK

In the UK, signal lighting according to ECE R65 is not a legal requirement, but is strongly recommended as best practice. This applies particularly to vehicles involved in roadworks, exceptional transport or civil protection. Additional guidelines, as described in the Traffic Signs Manual - Chapter 8, recommend, among other things, a minimum mounting height of 1.2 metres, 360° visibility and additional reflective markings. For detailed requirements, it is advisable to consult Department for Transport or local authority guidelines.

Belgium

In France, signal lighting according to ECE R65 is legally required for vehicles involved in roadworks, exceptional transport or civil protection. This obligation is laid down in the French highway code. Additional guidelines may impose specific requirements for mounting height, visibility and additional reflective markings. For detailed requirements, it is advisable to consult the guidelines issued by the Ministère de la Transition écologique et de la Cohésion des territoires or local authorities.

France

In Belgium, signal lighting according to ECE R65 is legally required for vehicles involved in roadworks, exceptional transport or civil protection. This obligation is laid down in Belgian traffic legislation. Additional guidelines may impose specific requirements for mounting height, visibility and additional reflective markings. For detailed requirements, it is advisable to consult the guidelines of the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport or local authorities.

If you would like tailor-made advice from our specialists, please contact us!

If you have any questions or need advice on specific questions concerning the correct beacons or their mounting.

Disclaimer: this information is general and informative; not intended as legal advice. TRALERT® is not liable and only provides specific advice around the ECE Directives.

Disclaimer:

At TRALERT®, we do our best to keep the information in this article as accurate and up-to-date as possible, including the regulations surrounding vehicle lighting. However, legislation can change regularly, and although we make every effort to implement these changes in a timely manner, it is possible that certain updates or adjustments have not yet been incorporated into this article. We therefore always advise our readers to check the current legislation with their local government or regulatory bodies, especially when it comes to exceptions or specific national regulations. TRALERT® is not liable for any damages or fines resulting from outdated or incomplete information in this article.

If in doubt, always contact the competent authority to ensure that your vehicle meets all legal requirements.