When to use Beacon Lights?

[Leyla]

It might seem like a super random question but because I have nothing to do with trucks in real life and know nearly nothing about rules regarding trucks, I've always wondered about it.

I'm guessing they are like hazard/warning lights and meant to warn other drivers when you carry a heavy trailer behind you, but I've always wondered when to actually use the beacon lights.

Some people in game have it on constantly even without a trailer, which I personally believe is "incorrect" (unless there isn't even any rule as to when to use them). I only ever put them on when I have a trailer and parking on a hard shoulder, when I'm driving on a super narrow road with sharp curves, or when I'm in the city. I never have them on when I don't have a trailer.

What are the rules in real life (if there are any) regarding beacon lights? I've always wondered ever since I started playing ETS2

Thanks in advance!

[Støcki_V8]

My father is driving Heavy Loads IRL and you have to use the beacons when you have 30cm above trailer each side (wide load) ;) and also if your trailer is longer than a normal Curtainsider, for example long steel or something ;) greets :)

[Leyla]

Oh nice, thank you so much for the info!!

[ravenlord69]

I use them at work when i am hauling any kind of open/uncovered loads or oversized loads with escorts of course for oversized loads as well.

[Dan1]

Only few cargo have beacon light on trailers back, if u find that trailer keep the beacon light on till destination, even in day.

[Uzi [OTG]]

And, FYI.
In this game, much like in real life, the AI drivers dont give a rats behind about
your fancy beacon lights. They only , usually but not always, respect turn signal indicators if
you give them time to react to lane changes, etc. Those and brake lights.
Flashing indicators they don't seem to acknowledge or respect either.
Again, much like real life. /sigh.


So it's just some extra grahic blitz.
I no longer bother with putting hazard beacon lights on top of rigs, out of protest and the injustice of it all.

[Noraf]

Easiest way to know when to use it, is as stated above, if the trailer got a beacon on the back of it. Those trailers also usualy have a redused speed limit ( usualy 70 km/h ).
Over size loads are the ones that usualy needs beacon, but road works also use them, and , like you allready do, you can use them when parked on the shoulder, to better the visibility of your truck.

Road maintanese and heavy rescue trucks also uses beacons ( snow plows, and wreckers )

Drive safely

[Logo]

Hello.
do i also have to use the beacon lights, if i drive the hct trailers in finland?
is that considered oversize or not, cause it's inside the rules of that country?

[Underscore_101_3]

no you don't have to, as yes they are longer, but not wider or higher.

But probably need to add the finnish long vehicle banner at the back of your trailer when it's an owned one.

[fly 001]

I never see beacon lights fitted on the tractor units of AI , only on the rear. just like they do not have wipers going when its raining, although when its foggy they have lights on. also I was driving through a long tunnel in wet weather and the rain stopped inside the tunnel but it was foggy all the way through weird

[CaptainDeadlySniper]

I generally use them when entering the warehouse compound and when reversing the trailer.

[MirkoC407]

I'm not sure but I think I have heard that you must use them when passing tunnels with hazardous loads in some countries, e.g. Austria. Not in game though, there they are more or less decorative.

[Arkhyel]

Originally posted by Logo:

Hello.
do i also have to use the beacon lights, if i drive the hct trailers in finland?
is that considered oversize or not, cause it's inside the rules of that country?

Beacon lights are not used with hct trailers in Finland on real life. HCT trailer trucks use only the "Long Vehicle" plate on the back of the trailer here (usually there is text "PITKÄ", which means "Long").