Vehicle siren colours

Does anyone have a good document / pdf / link which clearly explains which colour sirens and lights various emergency services vehicles use? I know the basic ones but things like bomb squad vehicles and blood transfusion transportation vehicles always get me on the multiple choice.

Thanks a lot!

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 1

Advisor

I didn't know sirens had colours...

:tongue:

But seriously, there are three colours of flashing beacons seen on vehicles on roads. A fourth colour, yellow, is used on vehicles exclusively at airports.

They are as follows:
BLUE
Police
Fire service
Ambulance (including lone paramedics on equipped motorcycles)
Coastguard
Mountain rescue
Cave rescue
Bomb disposal (military or civilian)
Blood transfusion service (including organ transportation)

GREEN
Doctor (any vehicle used by a medical practitioner registered by the General Medical Council whether with full, provisional or limited registration)

AMBER
Road clearance vehicle
Refuse collection vehicle
Breakdown vehicle
Road maintenance vehicle (including maintenance of any apparatus in, on, under or over a road)
Vehicles with a maximum speed of less than 25mph (including its trailer)
Vehicles with an overall width exceeding 2.9 metres
Escort vehicle when used below 25mph
HMRC fuel testing vehicle
Surveying vehicle
Statutory immobilisation or removal vehicle

In short, blue is used on any vehicle used for saving lives. Amber is found on any generally slow moving vehicles which may obstruct the road from time to time. Green is only used by doctors.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 2

JO53PHS

All flashing lights are blue except for doctor cars (green) and roadworks/breakdown/service vehicles (orange).

See here

Reply 3

Runnerboy81

Also flashing amber lights are used by security companies when responding to rapid response calls (eg. Alarm calls) and are legally allowed to drive upto double the speed limit and hold the same driving power as police (eg. Drive through red traffic lights) as long as they have the advanced driving qualification

Reply 4

Lil-Sonic

Original post by Runnerboy81

Any evidence to back this up?

Reply 5

Advisor

Original post by Runnerboy81

Rubbish.

The only shred of truth in that statement is the colour of the light.

Reply 6

Runnerboy81

My husband is a rapid response driver for a security company

Reply 7

SonicOfPron

Original post by Runnerboy81

My husband is a rapid response driver for a security company

Bull****. Security Officers have the same powers as a cleaner or bin man. They do not have the same power as police.

Reply 8

Runnerboy81

I said driving power not they have the same powers as the police the same as mountain rescue have i didnt say powers as in arrest etc

Reply 9

SonicOfPron

Original post by Runnerboy81

I said driving power not they have the same powers as the police the same as mountain rescue have i didnt say powers as in arrest etc

They don't bloody have the same driving powers for god sake They don't share any powers with the police.

Reply 10

domonict

http://www.ukemergency.co.uk/blue-light-use/

Reply 11

SonicOfPron

Original post by Runnerboy81

I said driving power not they have the same powers as the police the same as mountain rescue have i didnt say powers as in arrest etc

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/speed-limit-exemption-for-life-saving-services even disagrees with you.

Nil points to you

Reply 12

DeeWave

Original post by Runnerboy81

Most of this isn't true.

Reply 13

Brons

Security in uk dont have that power. They can drive on private land like idiots on sites they are patroling. But they still have to obey by uk laws. private security have no power only police etc

Reply 14

Brons

White and yellow strobe can be fitted to security car. Private land if security is patrol a site in fenced locked gates he can display what ever colour he likes longs when driving on uk roads. Lights must be turned off. Massive court fine

Reply 15

Brons

No dont share no powers . But we do more than the police and have no backup like the police. And always the first on the front line take the ****. Response time of the police 3hrs. Fri sat nights. 999 operator sorry we busy as we cant get a unit to you for 5hrs. So security are on crap money but got to defend themselfs with no law rights yo protect them.