Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the potential safety benefits to roadside rescue and recovery operators of being permitted to use red lights; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by George Freeman
The previous Government announced its intention to review available evidence to see if a more flexible approach might be appropriate regarding amending regulations to permit the use of red flashing lights by road recovery operators.
The Government is committed to improving road safety. The Department is commissioning this study, which will involve an assessment of the potential risks and benefits. A decision to review the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 will be taken once the study has reported.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
If he will bring forward legislative proposals to allow roadside rescue and recovery operators to use red warning light on their vehicles; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government recognises the important work that recovery operators perform. The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (RVLR) 1989 permit the use of amber warning beacons capable of emitting a flashing or rotating beam of light to raise awareness of vehicles during recovery operations. Amber is a universally recognised signal colour.
RVLR also permits the use of an illuminated warning sign which must show a steady light, and be red if showing to the rear of the vehicle, and white or in some circumstances yellow if showing to the front.
There are no current plans to change the law.