04/07/2025
WHITE FLASHING LIGHTS USED BY THE SECURITY INDUSTRY AS PER THE NATIONAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACT
In the beginning when light bars were used on vehicles as warning and notification signal lamps it was the ROTATING LIGHT SYSTEM that had a static lamp with a reflector on gears rotating around the lamp reflecting the light in the different directions. Then as technology progressed the STROBE was introduced. A strobe light is not a permanent lit light that shines permanently it however is short flash of light that is created by the controlled electric discharge of a gas in a vacuum tube. This is NOT the same as its predecessor the rotating light. Strobe lights are still very commonly used in the headlamps, fog lamps and rear taillights of police and EMS vehicles. As technology progressed the LED - Light Emitting Diode - lights saw the light. They were more cost effective and durable and even much brighter than the rotating light and even the strobe light. Because of their intense brightness these LED lights could not be use without being diffused. They were placed behind a diffused plastic cover to diffuse the light as is also required by law.
These are the three different kinds of lights that were and are used as warning signal and identification lamps on or in vehicles. This brings us to what the law says about which kind of lights may be used by the various services. I am only going to focus on the Security Industry because of the issues this industry faces with a few uninformed law enforcement officers and their interpretation of the relevant law.
National Road Traffic Regulations, 2000
176. Identification lamps
(7) A vehicle—
(a) owned by a body or person registered as a security officer in terms of the Security Officers Act, 1987 (Act No. 92 of 1987); and
(b) driven by a security officer as defined in section 1 of the said Act in the course of rendering a security service, also defined in section 1 of the said Act, may be fitted with a white lens bar containing a lamp or lamps emitting an intermittently-flashing diffused white light in any direction, and containing a notice illuminated by a white light containing the word “security” and the name of the owner of the vehicle in black letters: Provided that the said lamp or lamps shall not be capable of emitting a rotating or strobe light.
A plain explanation for easier understanding.
If a vehicle is:
Owned by a registered security company or person, and being driven by a qualified security officer, then it may have a white light bar on it.
This light bar may flash a white light on and off (not spinning or strobe-style) in any direction.
This light bar must display the word "security".
This light bar must display the name of the company and owner of the vehicle in black letters.
Important Limits:
The flashing light must not spin (like a rotating beacon).
It must not flash like a strobe (no high-intensity strobe effects).
Why this matters:
This rule allows security vehicles to be easily recognized and seen at night during emergencies, but without
confusing them with police or other emergency vehicles that use blue or red strobe/rotating lights.
Glossary of Terms
White Light
Light that appears colourless to the human eye, such as ordinary daylight. It contains all visible wavelengths combined.
Lens
A piece of glass or other transparent material with curved sides, used to focus, spread, or direct light rays.
Intermittent
Happening at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady.
Diffused
Describes light that has been spread out in many directions, often by passing through a translucent material, to reduce intensity and glare.
Rotating
Moving or being caused to move in a circular motion around a central axis.
Strobe Light
A type of light that emits short, intense flashes produced by an electrical discharge in a gas, used for high-visibility signalling.
LED (Light-Emitting Diode)
An electronic component that emits light when a voltage is applied. It is energy-efficient, long-lasting, and used widely in modern lighting systems.
Taking all the above into consideration with the various definitions, the said act allows the use of the modern or new generation lights that uses the LED technology. These light bars are white lights, and they are diffused as is required by the act. These bars, depending on the configuration, can flash in any direction as is permitted by the Act.
Each company or user must have the word SECURITY, and the name of the vehicle owner displayed as is required by the said act. The new technology is NOT strobe technology and is thus not illegal.
This is our understanding of how the relevant law should be interpreted and applied:
When a court has to decide whether someone broke the law, it looks at a few key things. First, it examines what the law actually says. Laws define what counts as a crime and what elements must be present for an act to be considered illegal — including whether there was intent to commit a crime.
The definition of a crime is crucial. Our legal system relies on clear laws and correct application to maintain order in society.
Law enforcement agencies have a mandate to uphold these laws, but they must operate within that mandate. If officers are not properly trained to understand certain laws, then it is their responsibility to educate themselves before accusing citizens of breaking those laws.
A personal interpretation of the law is not legally binding — not even if it comes from a police officer. Just because a officer believes they understand a law doesn't mean their actions based on that belief are automatically lawful.
If officers act on a misinterpretation of the law and cause harm to a person or company, the affected party has the right to seek legal recourse. This may include action against the law enforcement department or even personal liability for the officer involved.
That’s why it’s so important that officers know and understand the laws they are expected to enforce. If they’re uncertain about the meaning of a law, they should refer the matter to the Department of Justice or their internal legal team — before taking action against the public.
