Emergency flashing lights
The law and use of emergency flashing lights.
This content is for general information only. It does not, and is not intended to, provide legal or technical advice or to represent a legal interpretation of the matters it addresses.
Frequently asked questions
Only certain vehicles can have flashing lights and the colour permitted depends on the type of emergency. See table below for further information.
| Vehicle being used* | Description | Type of flashing light permitted |
By a member of the Garda Síochána | Blue
(Maximum 50 watts) | |
As a fire brigade vehicle | Includes a vehicle used by senior fire officers in the performance of their duty as such officer. A ‘senior fire officer’ means a fire officer not below the grade of Assistant Fire Officer (Prevention) but including the grades of second and third officer | Blue
(Maximum 50 watts) |
By persons providing an ambulance service | Blue
(Maximum 50 watts) | |
By the Irish Prison Service | Blue
(Maximum 50 watts) | |
As an Irish Coast Guard vehicle, with or without a trailer | Used by a senior manager in the Irish coast guard in the performance of their duty as such officer. A ‘senior manager in the Irish coast guard’ means an officer of the Irish coast guard not below the grade of Divisional Officer | Blue
Maximum 50 watts) |
For the delivery or collection of human transplant organs, human blood or human blood products | Blue
(Maximum 50 watts) | |
As a marked military police vehicle | A mechanically propelled Defence Forces vehicle used by a member of the Military Police Corps | Blue
(Maximum 50 watts) |
| Vehicle being used* | Description | Type of flashing light permitted |
As a breakdown vehicle | A vehicle used for towing broken down mechanically propelled vehicles, trailers or semi-trailers to the nearest convenient place of safety or repair and includes a vehicle used in connection with and in the immediate vicinity of a breakdown
| Amber
(Maximum 36 watts) |
As a road clearance vehicle | A vehicle used for dealing with frost, ice or snow on roads and includes a vehicle used for cutting of roadside hedges or grass verges or in the sweeping of roads | Amber
(Maximum 36 watts) |
As a road works vehicle | A vehicle used in connection with the construction, maintenance and improvement of roads or in connection with the provision and maintenance of water supplies, sewerage and drainage services | Amber
(Maximum 36 watts) |
By a local authority or other person authorised by a local authority in the collection and disposal of refuse |
| Amber
(Maximum 36 watts) |
In the provision or maintenance of telephone services or of gas or electricity supply
|
A vehicle must be lit only if it is in use at the scene of operations | Amber
Maximum 36 watts) |
A Customs and Excise patrol vehicle means a mechanically propelled vehicle used by officials of customs and excise in the performance of their duty as such officials
| Amber
(Maximum 36 watts) |
Under road traffic law, the flashing lamp should where possible be fitted on the roof of the vehicle on a point on its longitudinal axis and no part of the illuminated surface of the lamp should be less than 1.27 metres from the ground.
No. See table above for further information on the vehicle types and the colour of flashing lights allowed.
If your vehicle is being used in the performance of a duty listed in the table above it can be fitted with flashing amber lights. Otherwise, it is illegal.
No. Only an amber flashing light may be used and only in the course of duty.
Yes. All tractors and self-propelled machines are required to be fitted with a flashing amber beacon and have it switched on when in use.
Yes. The only vehicles exempt from testing are vehicles which are owned or operated by An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces.
All other emergency vehicles must be roadworthiness tested under the following regulations:
S.I. No. 415 of 2017 - The Road Traffic National Car Testing Regulations.
S.I. No. 347 of 2013 - Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Vehicle Testing (No. 2) Regulations 2013.
Related pages
Regulations on colours of vehicle lights, including fog lights, parking lamps and side-marker lamps
Information and regulations for important vehicle components including lights, seat belts, glass and tyres.