Good question! 
Roymondo:
Could any drivers of low-loaders etc that are fitted with orange flashing beacons explain why they feel the need to use said beacons even when the thing is not moving slowly?
there not just there for the speed, there also for the length or how wide there may
Roymondo:
Could any drivers of low-loaders etc that are fitted with orange flashing beacons explain why they feel the need to use said beacons even when the thing is not moving slowly?
Possible answers:
Just testing out the bulbs.
Saves remembering to put em on later.
Oversized load.
Some obscure regulation requires them ( ROG will know if there is).
Driver is a wannabe copper and orange flashers are almost as good as blue ones.
BJD
Only if the speed is less than 25mph or the width exceeds 2.9m. Neither of these applies to the vast majority of such vehicles that I see on a daily basis.
the amount of times i’ve been behind a log trailer and its not longer, higher or wider than a normal trailer but the lights are better than you’ll find at a rave 
annoying or what 
‘‘cos dey look well kool wiv dem flashin innit’’ 
Or something similar to that
GOt stuck behind a guy once in traffic for quite along time eventually I asked him to turn it off as it was doing my head in he obliged.
Same reason those recovery drivers with a little van and a car on a trailer have enough strobe lights flashing to light up the Albert Hall
Santa:
Same reason those recovery drivers with a little van and a car on a trailer have enough strobe lights flashing to light up the Albert Hall
i think that has to do with some law that the recovery guy has to have the beacons going if the towing a veichle on the road
Some have them hard wired into the lighting circuit, we have a hella socket fitted to the light cluster so we can plug a beacon in when we need it an power it off the light circuit.
I know of a couple of drivers who just seem to like them though and will often drive along with a machine sitting completely inboard on their 6 wheeler beavertail with lights and everything going.
The only time I use the roof beacons is when instructed to do so on a site or loading in the road, about two or three times ever I’ve forgotten to turn them off and can’t hear the rotators for the radio. I’m mortified when I realise.
they are “Look at me I’ve got a big [zb]” lights
I think the reason behind me leaving mine on is probably the same as most, you drive onto site and have to put them on, you get ■■■■■■ around no end there and by the time you come out you forget, hate it when i see them still going and always forget to put them on before entering a site…
i was driving back from stranraer on the A75 back to carlisle, it was dark, i noticed in the distance that there was a truck with its orange beacons on and flashing away, i was slowly catching it up and realised it was a truck that had them and he had no trailer so i thought whats the need in that! but as i got closer i realised it was a scania and was on tow!! lol
I have them on all the time due to loaders working at back of truck all the time. They might as well be switched off as other road users dont even bother about them they are there to warn others users of possible dangers to themselves or the truck and occupents
Quigg:
I have them on all the time due to loaders working at back of truck all the time. They might as well be switched off as other road users dont even bother about them they are there to warn others users of possible dangers to themselves or the truck and occupents
This what happens when warning signs are used at the wrong time, as in the original thread. The same thing applies when there are signs on the matrix that are not relevant. Eventually drivers assume that they are incorrect and ignore them. Result, possible accident.
It is up to the operator of any warning device to ensure that it is only used at the correct time and no other.
waddy640:
This what happens when warning signs are used at the wrong time, [snip] It is up to the operator of any warning device to ensure that it is only used at the correct time and no other.
Spot On !!! 
I just assumed it was some type of build regulation? People that park in lay by’s(in the dark) with hazard lights on do my head in. HTF are you supposed to know they’re in a lay by and not on the side of the road?
aahh!! McPloppy, question for you on this subject.
quite often see logs on trailers that are within the poles on the sides, no higher than the truck pulling them and not over length so why do they need at least 4 beacons if not 6 plus 
they certainly don’t drive slow and they shouldn’t be overweight
i can’t understand how many [zb] heads are on here.
some low loaders have rear steer. do you think the driver will get out at each roundabout and switch it on? no he will leave it on.
do you think all low loaders are 8’ wide? no they arn’t, but you lot will know different.
some of them have fixed flashing lights, because of the above.
some of them have a flashing light that needs to be pushed down to switch it on. and this thing called gravity, and bumpy roads can switch it on without the driver knowing.
i know what type of people know better though.
it’s the ones who drive around in high vis clothing, the ones who sit in truckstops in high vis clothing, the ones who go home, or to the pub in high vis clothing.
limeyphil:
it’s the ones who drive around in high vis clothing, the ones who sit in truckstops in high vis clothing, the ones who go home, or to the pub in high vis clothing.
thats every truck driver in the uk then phil yellow vests are the new in thing in fashion 