What is a Run Lock System?
A Run Lock keeps the engine running while the key is removed from the ignition, enabling a useful power supply for beacons, lights, radios, fridges, safety equipment computers and tail lifts without the battery going flat.
With an effective Run Lock System, the vehicle is perfectly safe and cannot be driven off without re-inserting the key. If not, when either the handbrake, foot brake or clutch is operated the engine will immediately cut out. It is a vital tool for many organisations.
Run Lock for Emergency Services
Police: the police computer needs to be on all the time in their cars, and draws a huge amount of battery power, so run-lock saves them from re-booting the ANPR computers every time they park or stop.
Ambulances and First Response vehicles use it to keep fridges of medicines working and power for medical equipment, as well as lights, communications radios and heaters when a patient is receiving treatment in the back, before they can get to a hospital.
Fire Engines use it to power machines such as tail lifts and cranes while putting our fires, as well as cutting equipment if the necessity requires it.
Road haulage delivery companies need it to keep medicines or food at a constant temperature while delivering to different towns and cities.
Construction vehicles use it to power tail lifts, high powered lights, cranes, beacons, tippers, radios and safety gear when there is no other power available.
Run-Lock System from Amber Valley
Amber Valley make an effective RUN LOCK SYSTEM which can be fitted to any vehicle. This is the first in a series of exciting new products to make the drivers and operators life easier, saving time and money for the company. It is easy to retro-fit onto any vehicle.
For anyone tempted to fit one as a fashion statement, here are the current Regulations. There are several exemptions to the standard regulations which are:
Where a vehicle is stationary ‘owing to the necessities of traffic’ – e.g. where a vehicle is stationary at traffic lights.
Where an engine is being run so that a fault may be traced and rectified.
Where machinery on a vehicle requires the engine to be running – e.g. where the engine powers a refrigeration unit, or compaction equipment in a refuse vehicle.
The Regulations currently in force are:
The Road Traffic Act
Leaving your vehicle unattended whilst the engine is running is known as “Quitting” and is an offence against S42 of the RTA 1988. It is dealt with by Regulation 107(1) of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulation 1986.
Regulation 107(2)(a). This states that no person shall cause or permit to be on any road any motor vehicle which is not attended by a person duly licensed to drive it unless the engine is stopped and the parking brake is effectively set. Exemptions to the requirements of this Regulation as to the stopping of the engine include a fire brigade vehicle, the engine of which is being used for any fire brigade purpose.
Highway Code Rule #123 The Driver and the Environment.
You MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road.
Generally, if the vehicle is stationary and is likely to remain so for more than a couple of minutes, you should apply the parking brake and switch off the engine to reduce emissions and noise pollution. However, it is permissible to leave the engine running if the vehicle is stationary in traffic or for diagnosing faults. [Law CUR Regs 98 & 107] 3.
The Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) Regulations 2002
The regulation enables local authorities in England to issue fixed penalty notices to drivers who allow their vehicles to run unnecessarily while stationary. These regulations came into force on 18th July 2002. The powers to do this are automatically conferred by the regulations, therefore local authorities do not have to apply to be designated to use them.
