whats the law regarding flashing beacons on low loaders? Today i was following a low loader he wasn’t over width or travelling slow but have 2 really bright low level flashing beacons that nearly blinded me. Is there any laws governing there use or is a case of if fitted they’ve got to be used?
As far as I’m aware you are limited to 25mph when using beacons, I could of course be wrong 
There was something about this subject on the forum recently.
Tiger.
A vehicle slower that 25 mph I believe must have a warning beacon, which is different to restricting those using a beacon to driving under 25 mph.
A lot of Lowloaders are overlength even when empty and with powered rear steer when turning the back end will swing out far more than normal, those not used to the way these trailers turn can be easily caught out.
Some low loaders especially the modular type can be over 44 tonnes empty, and often the trailer will have a side to side slight "sway "when travelling this can also catch out other drivers.
And the main reason for having the beacons on the back end, - is because the drivers cant be bothered to take them off once tipped- there is no reason for a beaver tailed semi low loader running empty within C&U regs to have any sort of warning beacon active, but most seem too 
2 lots of interest to you
Rikki you know your stuff about lowloaders !!!
You been reading books by Tom Llewelyn…lolol
my pet hate is people putting them on the overhang of the trailer when carrying steel, its only because they cant be arsed putting a markerboard and red light on, much easier to just plug the magnetic flashy light in and blind everybody behind you
I find the worst offender’s to be recovery vehicles (the AA etc) do you really need a full width beacon switched on because you’ve got a Nissan Micra on the back?!■■!■■ 
I have beacons on the back of my rigid, as I do often carry oversize loads. we have been instructed to use them when we have an oversize load, even if its only slightly over, either to the side or rear. Alot of people don,t see that there is an overhang so to cover our ■■■, in case they hit it, we use them.
The switch for my rear beacons is in the most ridiculous place right by my knee and sometimes it can get knocked on, so if you see mine on with no obvious need , please let me know, but not by way of coffee bean shake 
A twirling of your hands above your head normally works lol…
kindle530:
I find the worst offender’s to be recovery vehicles (the AA etc) do you really need a full width beacon switched on because you’ve got a Nissan Micra on the back?!■■!■■
Got to agree with you there.We used to use mag beacons now and again on overhanging loads and I simply put electrical tape around the orange globe lined up with the bulb. this stops the worst of the dazzle for following vehicles.
one thing to say on them should be banned, they are bad enough when in a truck then add dark and rain or be in a car and they are down right dangerous
Ban them
And the reason■■? Health and Safety■■?
They will be banning lights altogether soon, I would say that rear fog lights on some cars are TOO bright, espescially when the driver thinks that heavy rain = fog■■?
true this i knew a lad who said he had follwed one in dark and rain, this he said made him dizzy ,what did you do then pull over for a while, no he said he had to get home ,i will learn to put grammer stuff in one day but this will do for now
fuse:
true this i knew a lad who said he had follwed one in dark and rain, this he said made him dizzy ,what did you do then pull over for a while, no he said he had to get home ,i will learn to put grammer stuff in one day but this will do for now
Another true story.
Years ago driving a tank transport in Germany, I’d lost count of how many days non stop we’d been on the road. Well in the small wee hours I’m following the flashing beacon of my mate in front of me while I do my best nodding dog impression when I noticed I was in a really really small village and heard the sound of falling masonry and general mayhem.
Turns out I’d been following a German council truck for 20 minutes!
My how we laughed.
NOT.
i bet the council truck thought you were chaseing him, ok as long as tank was not damaged
When doing steel haulage we were given the Steel Stockholders crib sheet to help us sort out what lights to use. As far as I can remember, the beacons are not a requirement other than for slow moving vehicles.(Long low loaders) What it did say though is that the load should be marked if overwidth or overlength with steady lights showing white to the front and red or amber to the rear. This would help me now particularly when cabins/site vans or steel plates are on the move at night and all I can see is the beacon in the middle, but don’t know where the edges finish. Over width sheet steel with no marker is a recipe for a can opener kind of disaster.
Here is some info,
I think what the continental low-loaders have is a fantastic idea, it’s like 4 arms that extends from the trailer, both sides, front and rear, with normally 3 lights on (white facing to the front/red facing aft)
No load then they keep them in, but they still light up, indicating that its a large vehicle. Loaded then they take them out to the width of the load being carried as marker lights. They still have the obligatory all singing all dancing beacons, but normally just on the cab, then maybe one at the rear in the middle of the trailer. Did have a pic of one taken in the night at Drongen, but can’t find it, sorry, was carrying one hell of a load too 
kindle530:
I find the worst offender’s to be recovery vehicles (the AA etc) do you really need a full width beacon switched on because you’ve got a Nissan Micra on the back?!■■!■■
It is actually illigal to drive on a motorway with there beacons flashing, they should only have there flashers going when picking up.
I now drive a highways maintence vechile(street ligh erecting) and if we forget to turn our flashers off we can get done for it.
so we can say that mike lowe and mr ladyman have never been behind these beacons at night in bad weather still they know best poa,s dont make me laugh
No load then they keep them in, but they still light up, indicating that its a large vehicle. Loaded then they take them out to the width of the load being carried as marker lights. They still have the obligatory all singing all dancing beacons, but normally just on the cab, then maybe one at the rear in the middle of the trailer.
That’s we’ve got on our trailer.