What is the function of warning beams on a truck?
Which vehicles must be equipped with the warning beams?
The road traffic regulations contain detailed regulations regarding the placement of appropriate lamps on the vehicle. Vehicles are a wide category of cars with various purposes. Orange warning beams must be placed on road service vehicles and the vehicles which pose a threat or obstruction to traffic safety. This category of vehicles include oversized vehicles, roadside assistance, garbage trucks, septic tankers, tractors and combine harvesters. Additionally, warning beans must be placed on vehicles performing work on roads, in production halls and at airports.
Warning beams made in LED technology replace older models with traditional light bulbs. LED lighting brings many benefits. A slightly more expensive LED lighting gives us zero operating costs in the long run. In addition, we can avoid the problem of replacement of light bulbs and we get a guarantee of trouble-free use for a long time. They can be used several times longer than halogen lamps. In addition, LED lamps are characterized by a high degree of resistance to vibrations and shocks, therefore they cope very well on demanding terrain.
When can a vehicle have the roof warning lights on?
Warning beams play an extremely important role in emergency vehicles. First of all, this lighting has a direct impact on traffic safety and reduces the travel time to the place of emergency situation. During the traveling, drivers of priority vehicles do not have to obey traffic regulations. Proper lighting of the priority vehicles guarantees good visibility ahead in a long distance. Other traffic participants can notice the vehicle l in advance and yield the right-of-way.
The warning beam called warning roof lamp, emitting orange flashing light, is very often mounted on tractors. Other road users attention can be drawn by its activation, and the flashing light communicate them that there is a working machine nearby and that they must be especially careful. The use of the warning roof lights during field work or in or near the buildings during farm work is allowed. However, the situation is different in relation to road traffic. According to the Act of 20 June 1997 on road traffic, amber light signals should be emitted by a vehicle that performs cleaning, renovation or modernization works on the road. The lamp can also be turned on a vehicle which cargo is not typical or the vehicle on the road threatens the safety of other participants. In addition, the warning roof lamp may also be on the towed vehicle instead of the reflective warning triangle.
Installation of the warning beam
According to these regulations, an agricultural machine may have its warning beam turned on during performing activities on the road or towing. However, this light is turned on when an agricultural machine has untypical construction or during transportation of an unusual load. You must perform the correct mounting of the lighting on the vehicle. The lamp can be mounted directly using three screws or one central screw having a power cord inside.
If you buy a warning beam for a vehicle, you must remember that it must meet the European regulations ECE-R65. It includes e.g. functions of lights, places or methods of mounting of the lamps. If there is a capital letter E on the lamp, it means that the lamp meets this condition.