Headlight Flashers

[GTRPete]

Anyone added an accessory called a "Wagga Wagga" to their headlights?  You switch it on and it alternates left and right headlamps similar to a Police Bike.

I've checked and they are legal so I've ordered a set from Sport Touring (£35) and am getting them fitted next week. 

I have to go though the Ring road in Bristol to get to the M32/M4 and it really bothers me when:

a) People fill up the 2-plus lane when they are alone in the car
b) Drivers deliberately move to the centre line to block me filtering through the traffic
c) Drivers simply don't look and block me filtering thorugh the traffic

It seems to me if I switch these things on it will sort the above issues out nicely, especially if I get a nice flourescent jacket as well.  Is this a good or a bad idea?

[Lonewolf]

I have some experience in this field.... ;D and my advice would be to be very careful as to your reasons for fitting such a system to the bike.

[Kwikasfuki]

I have modulating white hyperlites and blue non-modulating LEDs on the font of my bike. I also wear a florescent green visibility jacket. Its a bit like Moses parting the red sea on the motorway. Adding on a Wagga Wagga is too much like a police bike. I can see getting pulled over for that regardless if its legal or not.

EDIT: do you have a link for the Wagga Wagga?

[GTRPete]

I know what you mean about getting pulled, but the areas where I would use this device mean it is unlikely I would get pulled.  Anyway I have spoken to to a copper I know and he said they are not illegal but you are asking to be stopped.  He told me to state they are a safety device to reduce the likelihood of being hit by a car and a legal alternative to fitting a loud pipe.  They are also a legal alternative to fitting blue lights which are, strictly speaking, a no-no

I'll just carry all my docs with me and make sure the bike is 100% legal 100% of the time.

Lonewolf - tell me about your "experience"...cheers

[Kwikasfuki]

I can imagine coppers pulling you over but I guess the question is "are you attempting to impersonate a police vehicle" which is open to debate. The blue LEDs are OK as long as they don't flash.

I've been pulled over just the once and that was for giving a motorist the wanker sign  ;D They didn't comment at all on the lights. Didn't realise you could get pulled over for giving someone the sign.

[Lonewolf]

GTRPete, I've had a look into this and it seems you were right. There does not seem to be any problem at all fitting these to your bike. However I still wouldn't say you have fitted them to your bike though to get cars to move out of the way if you ever got stopped by the Police.

I'll put the full legal blurb on later, possibly this evening or tomorrow, as I'm just about to go out. That way if you ever did get stopped you could quote the legal jargon and you should be fine.

As NB asked do you have a link to the Wagga Wagga system, I might even get them fitted on mine.  ;D

[Kwikasfuki]

You mean they are legal or can be argued to that affect? :o

Woo hoo - where's the link to these?!

[GTRPete]

Here's the link

http://www.sportouring.com/gallery.php?sectionHeaderActive=400&rangeChoosen=14

Apparently they are called Wig-Wags not Wagga Wagga (dunno how i got that wrong  ???)

Mine are getting fitted next Saturday - will let you all know what they're like

I don't know if anyone here has used this company - they're based in an old mining town in S Wales and they sell LOADS of cool stuff.  Its a biker's paradise.  If I was stuck on a desert island I would want to take that shop with me....

[Lonewolf]

GTRPete......

Did you notice the comment at the bottom of the ad?

NOT FOR USE ON THE HIGHWAY

[Kwikasfuki]

I've been checking up on the legality of these and it appears they may fall into a gray area. I can certainly see the police not being too impressed with the use of these but then again I can see the benefit when filtering.

I am tempted to buy these as well as they look easy to install and I'll use them very occasionally (i.e. when the driver infront has blinkers on)

I don't know if anyone here has used this company - they're based in an old mining town in S Wales and they sell LOADS of cool stuff.  Its a biker's paradise.  If I was stuck on a desert island I would want to take that shop with me....

I purchased my Cee Baileys wind shield from them which arrived 3 months later. They said it was due to a family illness which I sympathise with, but my emails and phone calls went unanswered so have been reluctant to use them again

EDIT: watch on YouTube what they look like

[Mr Blek]

Chaps, these certainly are illegal to use on a public road. Having said that, the ZZR had these installed and, when used, traffic would melt like butter.

It's a risk using these as the boys in blue will take a dim view.

[Lonewolf]

Right, as promised I have looked into this and this is what I have discovered.

COLOUR OF LIGHTS

Blue Lights.
Regulation 16 Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989.

No vehicle other than an emergency vehicle shall be fitted with:
(a) a blue warning beacon or special warning lamp, i.e. a blue flashing light to the front or rear.
(b) a device which resembles a blue warning beacon or special warning lamp whether or not in working order.

For the purpose of this regulation, 'fitted' includes lamps which are masked over and those without wiring. 

So the above would, from the description provided include hyperlites.


Then Regulation 11 of Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 goes on about red lights to the front.


I cannot find anything specific about flashing white lights to the front.

Regulation 27 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regs 1989 states in respect of any other lamp....

'You are prohibited to use any other lamp so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to ther persons.

I would be interested to contact the company selling these and get their explanation for their reasons suggesting they are not road legal. It may be quite simply that they do not recommend you use them on the highway rather than you must not use them on the highway. After all as it states in the top most paragraph, whether the blue lights are wired in or not, the offence is complete. Would this also possibly apply to these flashing white lights.

What is the difference between me repeatedly flashing high and low beam to warn other motorists of my presence compared with these lights which understandably flash in the same way but side by side? How can that be significantly different?


The debate continues!

[Kwikasfuki]

Right, as promised I have looked into this and this is what I have discovered.

COLOUR OF LIGHTS

Blue Lights.
Regulation 16 Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989.

No vehicle other than an emergency vehicle shall be fitted with:
(a) a blue warning beacon or special warning lamp, i.e. a blue flashing light to the front or rear.
(b) a device which resembles a blue warning beacon or special warning lamp whether or not in working order.

For the purpose of this regulation, 'fitted' includes lamps which are masked over and those without wiring. 

So the above would, from the description provided include hyperlites.

The hyperlites are white! You mean the blue LEDs I have at the front? The problem is that the blue LED lights aren't flashing so therefore technically legal  ;D

[Lonewolf]

Apologies, I thought they were blue. If they are white then they are fine. 

[GTRPete]

Right....so they're legal then.....?

The company making them will state "Not for use on Highway" (that is America by the way, not UK) to cover their collective asses against getting sued.

My copper chum told me they were not illegal (he used them words specifically, he did not say "they are legal"), and as I said earlier he told me to state in the event of getting pulled they were a safety device.

Anyway they've turned up so they are getting fitted next Saturday.  If I get my collar felt I'll let you know

Is the debate over?