Hella rolls out red flashing lamp after law change
Vehicle technology provider Hella has launched a new rear-facing red flashing lamp following changes to the law that allow recovery vehicles to use red lights, after years of industry campaigning intended to improve the visibility of roadside workers.
“After a long-standing campaign by industry groups, Hella has unveiled its new rear-facing red flashing lamp, specifically engineered for roadside rescue, recovery, and removal vehicles,” said the company.
“The launch follows the introduction of UK legislation permitting operators to fit rear-facing red flashing lamps under a Vehicle Special Order (VSO), marking a significant safety milestone for the industry. Previously, red flashing lamps were reserved exclusively for emergency services.”
Hella’s new BST 2.0 red flashing lamp features six high-performance power LEDs and precision optics said to deliver superior visibility, day or night.
Roadside technicians can select from five flashing sequences (single, double, triple, or quadruple flash) along with a permanent light mode. A manual day/night setting allows for light intensity adjustment.
Designed for flexible installation, the Hella lamp can be mounted horizontally or attached via a bracket, and is also available in amber. It meets and exceeds UK safety standards, having been tested and certified to ECE R65 and ECE R10 regulations.
UK operators can now source Hella’s red flashing lamps through authorised distributors and apply to the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) for the necessary VSO to equip their vehicles with the safety feature.
“This legislation is the result of a prolonged campaign to enhance the visibility and safety of those working in recovery,” said Dave Clark, product manager for universal lighting at Hella.
“Allowing red flashing lights alongside traditional amber ones will greatly increase the visibility of stationary recovery vehicles on high-speed roads, helping to reduce the risk of tragic collisions.”
The government first announced the legislation in its Plan for Drivers. After a thorough review of the evidence, the current rules were introduced, allowing recovery firms to apply to the VCA for a VSO to use red flashing lamps.
