Neon Valve Lights - Legal?

[Dizzieblonde]

Just wondered if any police or road traffic peeps know whether those little neon LED lights you fit to the tyre valves of cars are legal on UK public roads? I was tempted to buy some red ones but the packaging said not all colours may be legal on-road and wondered if anyone knew? I can understand why blue might be dodgy, maybe looking a little like an emergency service vehicle, but does anyone know where they stand legally?

[kempie]

You are correct in stating that UK law allows blue lights to be displayed by emergency vehicles only. It is also illegal in the UK to show red lights other than to the rear of a vehicle.

[Grunty]

I'm sure kempie meant to say that in addition to his/her answer, it is illegal to show any light to the rear that is not red. It is an exemption to this that lets emergency vehicles use blue lights. I've never seen these things, but I would think they would be visible from the rear at some time, and therefore would be illegal.

[Grunty]

I should have said they would be visible from the front at some time if red, or from the rear at some time if any other colour.

[kempie]

Grunty - I did not intend to include your addition to my answer.

It is perfectly legal (nay, a legal requirement) to also show amber (indicators) and white (reverse) at the rear of a vehicle but they can also be shown at the front (or sides) unlike red which is rear only.

[Dizzieblonde]

Thanks Kempie and Grunty - Sounds like I'd be on dodgy ground with them so I might give them a miss. They'd probably look a bit daft on an 899cc Chinquecento anyway! HeHe!