Flashing lights that screw into tyre valves - illegal?

garnett

I found some ofthese in a poundshop. They seem pretty effective but on the packaging it states "for use on private property only" - Are they illegal on the streets?

Mog Uk

I'm guessing the blue light would be frowned upon..! And the fact they are slightly, well, 'chavvy' is a crime in it's self.....

When these first came out a few years ago alot of people where adding them to motorbikes ( god knows why ) plenty of reports of them ripping out the valve at high speed, not good......

Totalnewbie

I've been wondering this.

The bloke found them in a £ shop and bought a packet for me and one for himself (blue ones). He's been using his and they do make him more visible from the side. But mine are still in the packet because I'm not sure them being blue is allowed and I don't want to get in trouble, goody-two-shoes that I am!

He's had them on for months and not been told off about it yet, and he works around the City area of London where there are generally a few police about.

RufusA

From the Road Vehicles Lighting Regs:

Restrictions on fitting blue warning beacons, special warning lamps and similar devices
16. No vehicle, other than an emergency vehicle, shall be fitted with-
(a) a blue warning beacon or special warning lamp, or
(b) a device which resembles a blue warning beacon or a special warning lamp, whether the same is in working order or not.

In theory an amber coloured light should be okay, BUT from looking at the regs, I'm not sure if you are allowed any lights to the wheel/tyre, only retro-relfective markers!

HTH - Rufus.

Parkey

Blingtastic!

spen666

RufusA wrote:

From the Road Vehicles Lighting Regs:

Restrictions on fitting blue warning beacons, special warning lamps and similar devices
16. No vehicle, other than an emergency vehicle, shall be fitted with-
(a) a blue warning beacon or special warning lamp, or
(b) a device which resembles a blue warning beacon or a special warning lamp, whether the same is in working order or not.

In theory an amber coloured light should be okay, BUT from looking at the regs, I'm not sure if you are allowed any lights to the wheel/tyre, only retro-relfective markers!

HTH - Rufus.

From this regulation ( and only this one), I'd say you are ok to use the valve lights as they are not a blue warning beacon or special warning lamp nor do they resemble a a blue warning beacon or special warning lamp

garnett

Gah! Should have said. Mine are red unlike the ones I linked to. They are pretty chavvy - especially if you put them on your car, but I think they'd really get you noticed at night.

Also, I think they should be safe against ripping off the valves, as they will be pressing into the hub, not pulling away.

BentMikey

Not as chavvy as the down low glow I made for my recumbent!!! (A cold cathode tube and batteries under the tailbox).

Random Vince

BentMikey wrote:

Not as chavvy as the down low glow I made for my recumbent!!! (A cold cathode tube and batteries under the tailbox).

pix - preferably in a film noir style :P

BentMikey

Something like this, though mine is a home-made version:

http://www.rockthebike.com/lights/downlowglow

ademort

Hi I use these on my bike they are called tireflys and do get you noticed. I live in the Netherlands and they are perfectly legal here. Our rules concerning emergency vehicles e.t.c. are almost identical to the rules stated by SPEN666 in the comment made above. But why should they be illegal, they make no noise are not used on any vehicle that may resemble an emergency vehicle, cannot see a problem. However you could take the bull by the horns and take your bike down to the police station and ask if the tire flys are illegal.
greetings Ademort

garnett

Thanks for the replies. I think my red lights should be fine - I think the note was just to make sure people didn't try and use them INSTEAD of a decent rear light, not AS WELL.

And BentMikey, I definitely think some photos of your setup are required, if possible in a Maxpower style.

ThatGuyOnABike

what next, flip down dvd player on your handle bars, i thought bicycles couldn't be ruined by the chavs, tachno freaks and rap artists but now i see they can be.

"pimp my ride" no thanks

Bassjunkieuk

ThatGuyOnABike wrote:

what next, flip down dvd player on your handle bars, i thought bicycles couldn't be ruined by the chavs, tachno freaks and rap artists but now i see they can be.

"pimp my ride" no thanks

As the fashion amongst most of those people is for big chrome wheels biles seem the logical choice! After all I'm yet to see even the biggest yank tanks on 27" rims :-)

BentMikey wrote:

Not as chavvy as the down low glow I made for my recumbent!!! (A cold cathode tube and batteries under the tailbox).

I'm sure I saw someone on a recumbent with cathode tubes on last night on my way home! I think I was heading up towards Dulwich Village and they where crossing the road. The tubes where blue (I think!)- don't suppose it was you??

nmarchini

Tesco sell some purple and green ones. Although they don't fit onto the high pressure type of valve I have on my wheels, just the car type.