Guide To: ‘Chapter 8’

As cited by Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual, any vehicle working on the highway must be fitted with a number of beacons and/or lightbars and additional warning lights where required.

Section 5.3 of the manual covers the selection and appropriate use of roof-mounted beacons and without prejudice to the specific requirements of any other sections of the manual. It is important to remember the following key points;

 Any vehicle stopping on the highway for works purposes or inspections shall be equipped with either a roof-mounted flashing amber warning light bar (comprising at least two independent light sources) or two independent roof-mounted flashing amber warning beacons, visible through 360°.

 Roof-mounted flashing amber warning beacons must comply with the requirements of the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations and should also comply with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Regulation 65 on Special Warning Lamps (see page 141 for more information).

 If the main roof-mounted beacon is likely to be obscured from the rear by parts of the vehicle or any equipment carried on the vehicle, additional beacons should be fitted toward the rear of the vehicle where they will remain visible.

 Vehicles engaged on snow clearing, gritting operations or similar work shall display flashing amber warning beacons at all times when operating.

In addition to warning lighting, there are other requirements to fit Highway or Motorway Maintenance markings, high-visibility conspicuity chevron markings and other safety devices, not listed in this guide. For further advice, you are advised to contact us in the first instance.

Examples of the types of vehicle and the minimum requirements, as exampled by Section 5.5 of the Traffic Signs Manual, can be found below. Please note that the lighting requirements are in addition to micro-prismatic reflective red/ luminous yellow chevrons, and are a suggested minimum only.