is red reflective on the side of vehicles legal?

[Rod Gray]

http://www.highways.gov.uk/business/abnormal_loads/cop_report/03.htm#ap_05

Some guidlines there.

There doesn`t seem to be any hard factual guidlines avialable, but this diagram will give you an approximate idea.

[Peter Cox]

Hey Paul,

No probs with red on back or sides but on front is a definate no no.

Peter

[Rod Gray]

quote Peter Cox:

Hey Paul,

No probs with red on back or sides but on front is a definate no no.

Peter

I was always led to beleive that red reflective is not allowed outwith 1 metre of the rear of a vehicle.

Maybe Big G can confirm.

[Andy Gorman]

The emergency services use red on the rear of vehicles, so I assume it’s OK. Most often they use orange in their chevron kits but red is also used sometimes. The reflectors on cars come in red so I can’t see how it would be a problem.

[Paul Hughes]

hi all

i was always told that class 2 reflective is classed as a light source on a vehicle therefore no red on front or white on rear any other colours OK, and white, red & any other colours OK on sides. i do work for the local authority and iam sure some jobs worth would have said if we had broken any rules (!) (:)

Paul

[Peter Normington]

This is a recurring question, as yet I have not seen a definitive law or regulation posted or details of any prosecutions. relating to the use of reflective.
To my mind it doesn’t really matter about were the colours go, they all enhance visibility, and so safety.
Its stupid to think that if a driver saw red reflective on the front of a car/truck he would confuse it with the rear, and cant think of any circumstances were it could be a potential danger.

Peter

[Paul Munford]

Many thanks for all your input..
The client (a security firm) want a metre wide / high, red reflective “eye” on the sides and front of their vehicles.
I shall now propose they use a cast vinyl instead on the bonnet.
Thanks again…
Paul.

[Andy Gorman]

Peter, you are probably right about the red on the front of a vehicle, but there have to be some rules. For instance, you definitely would not want to sit behind a van with white diamond grade on the rear. It will reflect the light from your headlights at least as glaringly as if it was a set of headlights pointing at you. As for following the rules, even the Police interpret them as they see fit. Reflective should be treated as a lamp; meaning no white on the rear and no red or orange on the front. It’s all to do with direction of travel.

[David Rowland]

yes the lamp rules is what we spoke about before. i remember driving home one night and followed a 4×4 who had white reflective on the back wheel cover… damn anoying it was as it was bright even at a distance mainly from my lights.

that could be considered a motorbike with a strong headlight coming the wrong way up a road.

[Peter Normington]

Andy, so white diamond grade would force you no hold back dip your headlights, and not tailgate!
Safety feature!
😀
Peter

[Peter Normington]

Dave, you realised it was a 4×4 so why would someone think it was a motorbike? 😀 anyway whatever you think it is, is of no matter, Unless you have this uncontrollable urge to drive into a light source? 😉
Moths do it though 😀
peter

[David Rowland]

…ses the guy with tinted glasses.

Also Ultra bright RED LED’s on the back of modern 4×4’s… waiting behind these is so bright, it has given me a headache once.

[Peter Normington]

Dave, dont all pilots were Ray-Ban’s?

Perhaps you should get some, then you wouldnt get a head ache 😀
from the high intenity light.

Peter