HC Deb 05 February 2001 vol 362 cc387-8W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the organisations, authorities and agencies which are entitled to(a) mount on their vehicles and (b) use on the public highway, blue flashing or revolving lights; and if he will make a statement. [148432]

Mr. Hill

Entitlement to mount and use blue warning beacons, special warning lamps and similar devices on road vehicles are contained in the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989.

These regulations restrict the fitting of blue warning beacons or special warning lamps to emergency vehicles. The meaning of an emergency vehicle in these regulations is defined as a motor vehicle of any of the following descriptions:

  1. (a) a vehicle used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes;
  2. (b) an ambulance, being a vehicle (other than an invalid carriage) which is constructed or adapted for the purposes of conveying sick, injured or disabled persons and which is used for such purposes;
  3. (c) a vehicle owned by a body formed primarily for the purposes of fire salvage and used for those or similar purposes;
  4. (d) a vehicle owned by the Forestry Commission or by a local authority and used from time to time for the purposes of fighting fires;
  5. (e) a vehicle owned by the Secretary of State for Defence and used
    1. (i) for the purposes of the disposal of bombs or explosives,
    2. (ii) by the Naval Emergency Monitoring Organisation for the purposes of a nuclear accident or an incident involving radioactivity,
    3. (iii) by the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service for the purposes of rescue operations or any other emergencies, or
    4. (iv) by the royal Air Force Armament Support Unit;
  6. (f) a vehicle primarily used for the purposes of the Blood Transfusion Service provided under the National Health Service Act 1977(a)or under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978(b);
    7. 388W
  7. (g) a vehicle used by Her Majesty's Coastguard or Coastguard Auxiliary Service for the purposes or giving aid to persons in danger or vessels in distress on or near the coast;
  8. (h) a vehicle owned by the British Coal Corporation and used for the purposes of rescue operations at mines;
    1. (i) a vehicle owned by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and used for the purposes of launching lifeboats; and
    2. (j) a vehicle primarily used for the purposes of conveying any human tissue for transplanting or similar purposes.

The regulations prohibit the use of warning beacons emitting blue light and special warning lamps by emergency vehicles except (i) at the scene of an emergency (ii) or when it is necessary or desirable either to indicate to persons using the road the urgency of the purpose for which the vehicle is being used, or to warn persons of the presence of the vehicle or hazard on the road.