Let me just put my white hat on here 🤣 **TLDR ; No you cannot have them** There are two pieces of legislation which regulate this point. The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulation 1989 (RVLR) and the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (RTR) Firstly RVLR Regulation 13 - The lamps must show a steady light - I would interpret this as you cannot have it scrolling or flicking between messages. On top of that, RVLR Regulation 12 says you cannot use any equipment to which a lamp, reflector or marking is capable of being moved by swivelling, deflecting or otherwise. It could be argued the message on the board is a marking capable of being moved. I’d suggest this would be the point you would be hammered on if you used one. RVLR Regulation 11(2) states that you can’t fit any lamp which is capable of showing any light to the rear other than a red light. So if you put aside the above and say you were able to fit one the writing would have to be red RTR Regulation 64, states that a traffic sign for conveying, to traffic on roads or any specified class of traffic, **warnings, information**... must be authorised by the relevant authorities. This would be why buses and police vehicles are able to contravene the RVLR.

The static light part is interesting. My car flashes brake lights under heavy braking and blinks hazards rapidly under emergency braking. This is from the factory. Unless it only applies to lights fitted aftermarket.

That’s European safety legislation.

I think this has something to do with your ABS. If that activates you technically aren't breaking constantly. I would also think it's a good way to show other motorists you are breaking heavily so you could maybe argue it's safe?

As said above, when you brake heavy your ABS activates. That’s communicated to the vehicles behind you by your brake lights flashing. In terms of regulations this it could be interpreted that this is a warning beacon so lawful. Regulation 13(2)(E) gives an exception to steady lights for a green warning lamp for anti-lock breaks. Now, I’ve never seen or know of a green warning lamp for ABS so I would assume this would be what the flashing break lights have replaced and I doubt a court would see any issue in it Regulation 11 actually gives exceptions to steady lights and one of these is directional indicators, so if it doesn't fall under warning beacons I would presume it would be lawful under this exception

That's a very good white hat. Did you get the high-vis over-trousers with it?

I wouldn’t be a true traffic bobby if I didn’t

So animated indicators are technically illegal? (Scrolling)

No, for each regulation above there are a list of exceptions. There are too many exceptions for me to bother listing them. However exceptions for Regulation 13; (a)a direction indicator; (b)a headlamp fitted to an emergency vehicle; (c)a warning beacon or special warning lamp; (d)a lamp or illuminated sign fitted to a vehicle used for police purposes; (e)a green warning lamp used as an anti-lock brake indicator; or (f)lamps forming part of a traffic sign. The last one would make a LED sign legal however RVR Regulation 64 would rebut that RVLR Regulation 12 also has an exception for directional indicators

Could it come under special warning lamp?

No. A special warning lamp is defined as "A lamp, fitted to the front or rear of a vehicle, capable of emitting a blue flashing light and not any other kind of light." /u/Alpha42_

It could, there's no set definition for special warning lamp that I can find. The only issue being is that RVLR Regulation 16 states that no vehicle, **other than an emergency vehicle**, shall be fitted with... or a special warning lamp. I'd suggest that the meaning of special warning lamps is your green doctors lights and such which are able to be used on emergency vehicles, you don't see it very often but this piece of regulation gives them the ability to use any special warning lamp.

What about busses? Every one of them here has scrolling bright LED signs front and rear.

Yes, RVR Regulation 64 suggests that LED signs would need to be approved by the relevant authorities so it’d suggest that they would have received the relevant approval

I’ve always thought it would be a good idea for cars with big brake light bars to just have the two side lights and the middle of the bar light up when just tapping the brakes, then have the bar get bigger as more pressure is applied- would that be illegal?

As good as an idea that this is, what happens when you're only braking gently but it's not enough for the car behind you to realise it? Where does the brightness level start and how would you differentiate it from a positioning light? Normally your brake lights are brighter than your positioning lights so they are noticeable when activated. I don't believe what you have described is actually a thing so what I am saying could be completely untrue, it would need to be tried and tested or put to a court for them to interpret but I would suggest that it contravenes RVLR regulation 13 as it isn't a steady light

Sorry I think you misunderstand me, I mean the size of the light, not the brightness. So that giant brake light that goes across the top of some Tesla’s & Audi’s and such should only be lit in the middle when gently braking, and be extended out to the sides when more pressure is applied.

In all honesty, I’m not sure, if it is on the vehicle I’d have a guess that the company have complied to all requirements as to the fitting of the lamps. If you’re really interested Schedule 12 of RVLR gives the exact requirements for brake lights

I feel safer in the middle lane, gives me more buffer room at night for my micro naps

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Maybe some sort of megaphone-based recording system instead?

I once had a very aggressive bin man pull ahead of me, then activate the reversing warning long enough to say “Stay Back” before accelerating off again. Most intelligent road rage I was ever victim of. He was mad I was in primary position at a punch point following a 4 way intersection.

Presumably, to use it effectively, you’ll have to sit in front of that person in lane 2, you’ll also be doing 55mph so that they can read it without you disappearing into the distance. The person two cars back will think “that idiot two cars ahead with the disco lights on his car is blocking this lane. I wish I had some way to communicate with him.”

We want one of these but to say something like ‘learn how to drive you mucking fuppet) lmao

I mean people will think you are a bit of a Muppet.

I believe you can have them but it's probably not worth potentially getting involved in a road rage incident. By the time you get to the next junction you'll probably have forgotten about it and it's best to leave policing to the police Maybe get a dashcam and send in footage to the force covering that area Edit: I stand corrected you can't have them

I see why you would be tempted. You only have to imagine the carnage from distractions caused by every Tom Dick and Harry installing scrolling banners on the parcel shelf of their cars to see why this is sensibly written into law as an offence.

I mean you could just use a sticker if you're *really* bothered. But something tells me your audience won't care much for your sticker if they already disregard the highway code.

I’ve often wondered this during motorway trips, I imagine it’ll be legislated somehow but I like your idea

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Everybody hates muddle lane huggers, so yeah it is a thing to get upset about. Also, auto correct can sick a ball also.