Agricultural vehicle users being urged to comply with lighting rules

Agricultural journalist, smallholder and Editor of the Ferguson Heritage Magazine Jane Brooks, joins us for her regular look at the world of agricultural machinery.

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We may be coming out of the winter months, but that's no reason not to heed the Agricultural Engineers Association's advice to users of agricultural machinery to ensure they understand the rules regarding vehicle lighting and that vehicles used on the road comply with the rules.

It's also a good idea for customers to check anything their purchase meets the requirements as well.

The AEA say, "Where they are required, Amber Warning Beacons are a useful aid to warn other road users of approaching hazards, but agricultural vehicles increasingly fitted with inappropriate unidirectional, amber flashing lights. These only emit light in one direction and are not permitted on the road under the vehicle lighting regulations, although they can be used off-road.

"As well as not being legal, unidirectional flashing amber lights can be dangerous due to potential confusion with and/ or distraction from direction indicators. They are often brighter than the direction indicators and are sometimes fitted at a similar level. This can make it difficult for other drivers to see the direction indicators. Confusion of that kind has been a contributing factor in at least one fatal accident involving an agricultural vehicle."

INSTALLATION & USE OF AMBER WARNING BEACONS ON AGRICULTURAL VEHICLES.

At least one warning beacon must be installed & used: