Get ready for a game-changing road rule this week, as “red lantern” warning lights will be flashing a heads up to drivers.
In a move by the Department of Transport, there’s been a relaxation on the previously strict rules around the use of red warning triangles – these bad boys were strictly for emergencies only. But hold onto your hats, because that’s all about to change. Breakdown recovery and even tyre service heroes will now have the green light to apply to the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) for the right to use those attention-grabbing red lights.
Gone are the days when they were dusted off just for emergencies; they’re set to become part of the standard kit for situations like breakdown recovery.
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Dom Shorrocks, the top dog at RAC operations, has piped up with his two cents: “Being able to use red flashing lamps will unequivocally improve the visibility of roadside workers and help save lives.”
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
He’s not mincing words, calling out the “There have been too many tragic collisions where lives have been lost involving stationary recovery vehicles at the sides of high-speed roads where more prominent red lights might have made a difference.”
Prose twinkled with pride as they put out the word: “We are now in a position to proudly announce that the application for all Roadside Recovery, Removal and Tyre industry operators to apply for a Vehicle Special Order (VSO) is now live. A VSO will allow operators or technicians to use Red Lamps on their vehicles.”, reports Birmingham Live.
The statement read: “Journey of Red Lamps for the Recovery Industry has been a long one but for PROSE to be asked to become part of it for the past nine months has been an honour. It has seen several challenges along the way including a general election which has delayed things somewhat.”
“However the past few months has seen significant discussions and meetings with the Department for Transport (DfT) to get us to this point today. In addition many industry partners have been working very hard to ensure the appropriate training required has been developed.”
“We are now in a position to proudly announce that the application for all Roadside Recovery, Removal and Tyre industry operators to apply for a Vehicle Special Order (VSO) is now live. A VSO will allow operators or technicians to use Red Lamps on their vehicles.”
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