Battenburg markings

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File:Burnside Pumper.jpg
A Volvo pump truck from South Australian Fire with red-and-yellow Battenburg markings

Battenburg markings or Battenberg markingsTemplate:Efn are a pattern of high-visibility markings developed in the United Kingdom in the 1990s and currently seen on many types of emergency service vehicles in the UK, Crown dependencies, British Overseas Territories and several other European countries including the Czech Republic, Iceland, Sweden, Germany, Romania, Spain, Ireland, and Belgium as well as in Hong Kong and Commonwealth nations including Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Trinidad and Tobago, and more recently, Canada. The name comes from its similarity in appearance to the cross-section of a Battenberg cake.

History

File:Northern Constabulary - Before & After.jpg
Northern Constabulary vehicles that were changed to Battenburg markings

Battenburg markings were developed in the mid-1990s in the United Kingdom by the Police Scientific Development Branch (which later became the Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology) at the request of the national motorway policing sub-committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers. They were first developed for traffic patrol cars for United Kingdom police forces; private organisations and civil emergency services have also used them since then.

The brief was to design a livery for motorway and trunk road police vehicles that would maximise the vehicles' visibility, from a distance of up to Script error: No such module "convert"., when stopped either in daylight or under headlights, and which distinctively marked them as police vehicles.[1]

The primary objectives were to design markings that:[2]

  • Made officers and vehicles more conspicuous (e.g. to prevent collisions when stopped)
  • Made police vehicles recognisable at a distance of up to Script error: No such module "convert". in daylight
  • Assisted in high-visibility policing for public reassurance and deterrence of traffic violations
  • Made police vehicles nationally recognisable
  • Were an equal-cost option compared to existing markings
  • Were acceptable to at least 75% of the staff

Conspicuity

File:Ambulance in the Czech Republic 01.JPG
A Czech ambulance with green-and-yellow Battenburg markings

Battenburg design uses a regular pattern and the contrast between a light and a dark colour to increase conspicuity for the human eye. The lighter colour is daylight-fluorescent (such as fluorescent-yellow) for better visibility in daytime, dusk and dawn. For night-time visibility, the complete pattern is retroreflective.

The Battenburg design typically has two rows of alternating rectangles, usually starting with yellow at the top corner, then the alternating colour, along the sides of a vehicle. Most cars use two block rows in the design (so-called full-Battenburg scheme). Some car designs use a single row (so-called half-Battenburg scheme) or one and a half rows.

Unless precautions are taken, pattern markings can have a camouflage effect, concealing a vehicle's outline, particularly in front of a cluttered background.[3][4] With Battenburg markings, this can be avoided by:

  • Making rectangles large enough for optical resolution from distance—at least 600 × 300 mm.[1] A typical car pattern consists of seven blocks along the vehicle side. (An odd number of blocks also allows both top corner blocks to be the same fluorescent colour.)
  • Clearly marking cars' outlines in fluorescent colour along the roof pillars
  • Avoiding designs with more than two block rows (even for higher vehicles) by including a large area of plain or daylight-fluorescent colour.
  • Avoiding hybrid designs of Battenburg markings and other high-visibility patterns or check patterns.[2]

The Battenburg livery is not used on the rear of vehicles; upward-facing chevrons of yellow and red are most commonly used there.

Sillitoe tartan

Template:Main article

File:2014 Holden Commodore (VF MY14) Evoke sedan, Victoria Police (2015-01-02).jpg
A Victoria Police vehicle with blue-and-white Sillitoe tartan

In the development of Battenburg markings, one of the key goals was to clearly identify vehicles associated with police. In this regard, the pattern was reminiscent of the Sillitoe tartan black-and-white or blue-and-white chequered markings first introduced by the City of Glasgow Police in the 1930s, which were subsequently adopted as a symbol of police services throughout the United Kingdom; they are also used by the Chicago Police Department, Australia,[5] and on the New Zealand Police uniform.

Many police services have since phased out the Sillitoe tartan markings on vehicle liveries as they are not highly visible, replacing them with Battenburg markings. Although many police services such as the New Zealand Police still use reflective Sillitoe tartan markings on their uniforms to be easily identified and seen at night.[6]

Safety

File:FIT Rode Kruis (2) Nationaal Defilé 2018.jpg
Belgian Red Cross ambulances with yellow-and-green Battenburg markings on the side and chevrons on the rear

Battenburg side markings and chevron front-and-rear markings provide conspicuity for emergency vehicles, helping to reduce accidents, especially when they are in unusual traffic situations—e.g. stopped in fast-moving traffic, or moving at different speeds or in different directions.

Several criticisms of the Battenburg scheme were stated at the 3rd Annual US Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Safety Summit in October 2010 about their use on ambulances, including:

  • The difficulty of applying them to small, curved, and oddly-shaped surfaces
  • The high costs of adopting the markings
  • The confusing pattern caused when several parked Battenburg vehicles visually overlap
  • Obscuring the vehicle's shapes against complex backgrounds, or with open doors and hatches
  • Combinations other than police yellow-and-blue being less effective, and sometimes even making emergency personnel harder to see
  • Confronting the public with unfamiliar markings

The pattern's use by services other than UK police, and in other countries, was also criticised.

The high-visibility chevrons often used on the rear and front of Battenburg-marked vehicles, "through popular opinion rather than by a scientific process of testing and research", were found ineffective at reducing rear-end collisions. Stationary vehicles on high-speed roads were likely to be noticed, but not the fact that they were stopped. Parking at an angle was found a far more effective way of indicating the vehicles were stopped.[2]

Usage by country

Australia

File:NSW Ambulance INSP91.jpg
A New South Wales Ambulance response vehicle, with red-and-white Battenburg markings and additional reflective stripes intended to increase overall visibility

In Western Australia, St John Ambulance Western Australia uses green-and-yellow markings, while New South Wales Ambulance uses red-and-white Battenburg markings on ambulances and patient transport vehicles.[7] Australian police utilise the similar Sillitoe tartan markings.

Battenburg markings used in Australia
Battenburg Service Colours Example
File:Battenburg-ambulance.svg St John Ambulance Western Australia Yellow and green File:2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (W 906) 313 CDI MWB van, St John Ambulance (2017-12-09).jpg
File:Battenburg-white-red.svg New South Wales Ambulance Red and white File:Ambulance of New South Wales, 01.jpg
File:Battenburg-fire.svg South Australian Country Fire Service Yellow and red File:Burnside Pumper.jpg

Barbados

The Barbados Police Service uses yellow-and-blue half-Battenburg markings on most of their fleet. However, some police vehicles in Barbados use white-and-blue half-Battenburg markings.

File:Battenburg-police.svg Barbados Police Service Yellow and blue
File:Battenburg-white-blue.svg Barbados Police Service White and blue

Belgium

File:Ambulances DGH (1) Nationaal Defilé 2018.jpg
Ambulances in Belgium, 2018
File:AGS brandweer Nationaal Defilé 2018.jpg
Fire services vehicle, 2018

In response to the terrorist attacks on 13 November 2015 in Paris and 22 March 2016 in Brussels, the Belgian federal government conducted an analysis on the functioning of the emergency services during terrorist attacks. The main issue identified regarding the emergency medical services was that their recognizability (of both vehicles and personnel) had to improve, so that emergency workers would be able to identify qualified medical providers more quickly during an intervention.

An agreement was made between the federal government and the communities and regions to implement the same new vehicle markings and uniforms. Specifically, emergency ambulances and response vehicles would keep the yellow base colour, whilst non-emergency ambulances would get a white base colour. Both types of vehicles would be marked with retroreflective yellow-and-green Battenburg markings, similar to British ambulances.

A new uniform for medical personnel was also introduced, with different colours for the Star of Life for the different types of workers.[8]

Aside from medical vehicles, some new fire brigade, Civil Protection and highway services vehicles also use respectively yellow-and-red, blue-and-orange and yellow-and-black Battenburg markings.

Battenburg markings used in Belgium
Battenburg Service Colours Example
File:Battenburg-ambulance.svg Emergency medical services Yellow and green File:Ambulance SIAMU.jpg
File:Battenburg-police-belgium.svg Police[9] Yellow and blue File:Volkswagen T6 - Politie Antwerpen (2023) (cropped).jpg
File:Battenburg-fire.svg Fire services

Lifeguard

Yellow and red File:AGS brandweer Nationaal Defilé 2018.jpg
File:Battenburg-highways.svg Roadside assistance

Taxicabs in Brussels

Yellow and black File:Toyota Verso taxi BRU.jpg
File:Battenburg-rail.svg Belgian Civil Protection Orange and blue File:Volkswagen Amarok de la protection civile à Thuin - Divers Research Team.jpg

Canada

In Canada, Battenburg markings on law enforcement vehicles are uncommon. However, in recent decades, Canada has slowly integrated some Battenburg markings on EMS vehicles, particularly in Ontario and Quebec.

File:Behind the plow (3271594851) (cropped).jpg
A snowplow in Saskatchewan with yellow-and-black Battenburg markings.

Battenburg markings are used on plow trucks for transportation and infrastructure in some parts of Canada, primarily on the back to increase visibility and alert people driving on a highway during poor road conditions that there is a plow truck in use and they must slow down. The general colour scheme for a snowplow's rear reflective panel is yellow-green and black.[10]

Ontario

The parts of Ontario that utilize Battenburg markings, which are generally used by EMS vehicles, include the Region of Niagara,[11] Greater Sudbury,[12] Peterborough,[13] Lanark County,[14][15] and Frontenac County.[16]

Battenburg markings on police vehicles are not a common sight. The first regional police service to ever officially use Battenburg markings on its vehicles was the St. Thomas Police Service when it tested its new police interceptors with Battenburg markings, which were inspired by the UK's Battenburg design with the familiar blue and yellow reflective markings, in order to help enhance visibility within the city.[17][18]

The Barrie Police Service later took a similar approach to redesigning its vehicle wraps, which was announced on 26 July 2022, when it unveiled a half-Battenburg marked police cruiser as part of a pilot project to evaluate its visibility within the community.[19] This design featured the same blue and yellow reflective markings as those seen in the UK and Europe.[20][21] As of 12 May 2023, the Barrie Police Service has officially adopted half-Battenburg markings on all of their fleets, eliminating stealthy dark navy body-colored vehicles and replacing them with white instead.[22]

During the autumn of 2023, the Cobourg Police Service (CPS) announced it would be the third police service in Canada to adopt Battenburg markings.[23] A high-visibility Ford Explorer police vehicle with the markings is to be used by the service as part of a pilot project for 24 months.[24]

Quebec

In Quebec, Battenburg-style markings are used on various EMS vehicles, though some of the markings are reminiscent of Sillitoe tartan.

Common Battenburg markings used in Canada (by region)
Battenburg Service Colours Example
File:Battenburg-police.svg Barrie Police Service

Cobourg Police Service (pilot project)

St. Thomas Police Service (pilot project)

Lanark County Paramedic Service (Ambulance/EMS)[25]

Frontenac Paramedic Services (Ambulance/EMS)[26][27]

Yellow and blue File:St. Thomas Police Cruiser.jpg
File:Peterborough EMS-battenburg.png Peterborough County-City Paramedics (Ambulance)[28] Orange and blue
File:Niagara EMS battenburg-single.png Niagara Region EMS (Ambulance/EMS) Oxford blue and green File:Niagara EMS Ambulance 3-35.JPG
File:Battenburg-highways.svg Provincial Transportation and Infrastructure (Snowplow)[29][30] Yellow and black File:Battenburg Snow Plower.jpg
File:Battenburg-white-blue.svg Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services (Ambulance/EMS)[31]

Québec Urgences-santé/Health Emergencies (EMS vehicles, optional)[32]

White and blue File:Urgences-sante 0787 - 01.JPG
File:Québec EMS battenburg-single.png Québec Urgences-santé/Health Emergencies (EMS supervisor vehicles)[33][34] Yellow and ultramarine blue File:Boulevard Rene-Levesque 06 (cropped).JPG

China

Hong Kong

Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Hong Kong was a British Dependent Territory until 1997. Some emergency vehicles and special vehicles in the Hong Kong Police Force, Hong Kong Fire Services Department, Auxiliary Medical Service, and Hong Kong St. John Ambulance use Battenburg markings.

Common Battenburg markings used in Hong Kong
File:Battenburg-police.svg Police Force, Traffic Branch Headquarters Yellow and blue
File:Battenburg-white-blue.svg Police Force, a few other vehicles White and blue
File:Battenburg-ambulance.svg Fire Services Department, Mobile Casualty Treatment Centre Yellow and green
File:Battenburg-fire.svg Fire Services Department, Hazmat Tender, and Fire Motorcycle Yellow and red
Fire Services Department, Mobile Publicity Unit, and Fire Safety Education Bus
Fire Services Department, Emergency Medical Assistant Motorcycle, Rapid Response Vehicle and Paramedic Equipment Tender
File:Battenburg-white-red.svg Fire Services Department, Mobile Command Unit, and Forward Command Car White and red
File:Battenburg-ambulance.svg Auxiliary Medical Service, Paramedic motorcycle Yellow and green
Hong Kong St. John Ambulance, Ambulance

Czech Republic

File:Rallye Rejvíz 2012, ZZS ZK, VW T5 Strobel (01).jpg
Ambulance in the Czech Republic, 2012

All Czech emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, use yellow-and-green Batternburg markings.

Common Battenburg markings used in the Czech Republic
File:Battenburg-ambulance.svg Emergency medical services Yellow and green

Denmark

Danish emergency vehicles can have one of two options: a series of diagonal lines, or a Battenburg pattern. The diagonal lines must be either red-and-white or red-and-yellow at an angle of 45° ± 5° and have a width of 100 mm ± 2,5 mm. In the front and rear of the vehicle, the markings must be made symmetrical in a way that traffic is lead around the vehicle.[35]

Common Battenburg markings used in Denmark
Battenburg Service Colours Example
File:Battenburg-police.svg Police Yellow and blue
File:Battenburg-ambulance.svg Ambulances, doctor cars and similar Yellow and green File:Ambulance Region H - new design right.jpg
File:Battenburg-fire.svg Fire Department Yellow and red File:Fire engines at Østerbro Brandstation 03 (cropped).jpg

Vehicles may have a reflective text in the above colours, describing their function; for example Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Gloss), ALARM 112, AMBULANCE, Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Gloss), Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Gloss) or similar text.

The above patterns are not obligatory. For example, the Danish Emergency Management Agency have chosen to simply not have any reflective marking on their vehicles.

Germany

File:2022-02-27-Florian-Kiel-14-83-01.jpg
An Ambulance in the German city of Kiel

All rescue vehicles in Bavaria which have been procured uniformly since 2017 have a foiling in the Battenburg marker.[36] From 2019 the ambulance service in Schleswig-Holstein started to adapt the design.

Battenburg markings used in Germany
File:Battenburg-blood.svg Bavarian Red Cross

Schleswig-Holstein Ambulance

Orange and yellow

Iceland

Script error: No such module "Unsubst". In 2018 the Icelandic police started marking new police cars with blue and neon yellow markings similar to Battenburg markings used in Europe. Since then the police cars in the capital region have been made even more visible. In 2020 were Icelandic ambulances changed to look more like ambulances in Europe, adopting yellow and green markings. Icelandic Search and Rescue started adopting Battenburg markings in 2016 with red and yellow markings similar to the fire services.

Battenburg markings used in Iceland
Battenburg Police Yellow and blueScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
File:Battenburg-ambulance.svg Ambulances Yellow and green
File:Battenburg-fire.svg Fire Department Yellow and red
Icelandic SAR

Ireland

File:Cdlandrover.JPG
A Dublin Civil Defence Land Rover Defender field ambulance with blue and orange Battenburg markings

Ireland's Garda Síochána first introduced blue and yellow Battenburg style markings in 2004 with the formation of the Garda Traffic Corps.[37] This rollout was expanded in 2008 with the formation of Regional Support Units (later renamed to the Garda Armed Support Unit), equipped with Battenberg liveried Volvo XC70s with removable red "ARMED SUPPORT UNIT" lettering;[38] this livery was changed in 2016 with the purchase of new Audi Q7 SUVs and BMW 3 Series estates to include permanent lettering and a red stripe running along both sides of the vehicle.[39][40] Battenburg markings would be rolled out onto most new Garda vehicles (excluding vans) regardless of their role from 2021 onwards.

Ambulances in Ireland originally had similar striped markings to those in the United Kingdom. The Battenburg green and yellow markings and standard base yellow began to be adopted on Irish ambulances following the formation of the HSE National Ambulance Service in 2005. Notably, the Dublin Fire Brigade's ambulance operations and the Order of Malta Ambulance Corps use the same red and yellow Battenburg markings used on fire appliances.

Common Battenburg markings used in Ireland
Battenburg Service Colours Example
File:Battenburg-police.svg Garda Síochána (police)
Airport Police Service
Military Police 		Yellow and blue File:Garda Síochána Vehicle Car.jpg
File:Battenburg-ambulance.svg HSE National Ambulance Service

St John Ambulance Ireland

Yellow and green File:DublinAmbulance.jpg
File:Battenburg-fire.svg Fire and Rescue
Order of Malta 		Yellow and red File:Dublin Fire Brigade Pump Ladder D32.jpg
File:Battenburg-rail.svg Civil Defence Blue and orange File:Dublin Civil Defence Collecting For Haiti.jpg
File:Battenburg-blood.svg Coast Guard Orange and yellow File:Irish Coast Guard Land Rover Discovery in National Services Day.jpg
File:Battenburg-mountain.svg Mountain Rescue White and orange Link to image
Red and Blue Battenburg Red Cross Red and blue Link to image

Malta

Malta's first emergency vehicles with Battenburg style markings, 11 Fiat Ducatos for Mater Dei Hospital, were delivered between 2012 and 2014.[41] Further ambulances supplied new or as second-hand imports from the United Kingdom would be liveried in Battenburg markings.

The Civil Protection Department took delivery of its first fire appliances, Iveco, MAN and Volvo based appliances, with an orange and yellow Battenburg-like scheme between 2018 and 2019,[42][43][44] with some specialist appliances later built by UK-based EmergencyOne being liveried in UK-style yellow and red markings.[45][46] However, from 2021, a new livery was introduced for new Civil Protection Department fire appliances in 2021 that retained the yellow/orange and red colour scheme but disposed of the Battenburg pattern.[47]

The Malta Police Force first began rolling out Battenburg style markings in 2021 amid investments in new fleet vehicles in line with the force's Transformation Strategy 2020–2025, replacing a silver/grey and black livery. The first new vehicles delivered in the new livery were 20 new Hyundai Tucsons for use as Rapid Intervention Units.[48][49] The rollout continued in 2022 with the delivery of 12 SsangYong Mussos marked in the livery for use in rural areas,[50][51] followed in 2024 with deliveries of new traffic police BMW motorcycles and MG5 electric neighbourhood police cars.[52][53]

Common Battenburg markings used in Malta
Battenburg Service Colours Example
File:Battenburg-police.svg Malta Police Force Yellow and blue Link to image
File:Battenburg-ambulance.svg Mater Dei Hospital

Emergency Malta

Yellow and green File:Malta - Sliema - Triq Ix-Xatt ta' Tigné 03 ies (cropped).jpg
File:Battenburg-fire.svg Civil Protection Department (Fire appliances) Yellow/orange and red Link to image
File:Battenburg-rail.svg Civil Protection Department (K9 Unit) Blue and orange

New Zealand

File:NZP Skoda Superb outside district court Cropped.jpg
A New Zealand Police Skoda Superb parked outside Wellington District Court

All four main emergency services in New Zealand use reflective Battenburg markings on their liveries. Military Police, NZDF Fire Service and other smaller emergency services also sometimes use Battenburg markings.

The New Zealand Police use a reflective chequered yellow-and-blue Battenburg markings on their frontline liveried vehicles. The markings used by police are a different form of Battenburg to those seen in the United Kingdom being checkered with breaks instead of the conventical alternating rectangles. Police started to use Battenburg markings in 2000, the markings were exclusively for Highway Patrol vehicles with general duties vehicles receiving Battenburg markings in 2004.[54][55][56][57]

Wellington Free Ambulance was the first ambulance service in New Zealand to adapt the Battenburg marking doing so by 2006. Hato Hone St John followed suit in 2014 adapting Battenburg markings on new vehicles.[58] Vehicles in Wellington Free Ambulance fleet are marked with reflective green-and-white Battenburg markings similar to those used in the United Kingdom.[59] In 2014 Hato Hone St John started to use Battenburg markings with conventional green-and-yellow alternating rectangles. In 2023 Hato Hone St John updated their livery with a new adapted highly visible reflected green-and-yellow Battenburg marking livery with special Māori cultural designs.[60]

On 1 July 2017, New Zealand's urban and rural firefighting organizations amalgamated into Fire and Emergency New Zealand. Fire and Emergency started to use a new livery that includes Battenburg markings used on all new vehicles with many older vehicles respectably receiving the new livery. The Battenburg markings are the conventional red-and-yellow alternating rectangles used by fire services across the world, but has some subtle differences such as one of the rectangles being dark blue with Fire and Emergency branding.[61]

Common Battenburg markings used in New Zealand
Battenburg Service Colours Example
File:Battenburg-police.svg New Zealand Police Yellow and blue File:ZB Sedan.jpg
File:White and Green WFA Battenburg markings.png Wellington Free Ambulance Green and White File:Mercedes Sprinter 2023.jpg
File:Battenburg-ambulance.svg Hato Hone St John Yellow and green File:Mercedes Sprinter STJ 2023.jpg
File:Battenburg-fire.svg Fire and Emergency New Zealand Yellow and red File:FENZ MAN Type 3 Appliance.jpg

Pakistan

File:Pakistan Motorway Police Vehicle.jpg
A Toyota Hilux Motorway Police pickup truck

In Pakistan, the National Highways & Motorways Police use yellow-and-blue Battenburg markings on most of their fleets.

File:Battenburg-police.svg National Highways & Motorways (Police) Yellow and blue

Spain

File:Coches de la Policía Local de Sevilla 01.jpg
Seville municipal police Renault Scénics in adapted Battenburg-style markings

Though many municipal police forces of the Autonomous communities of Spain, such as Castile and León, Catalonia, Galicia and the Basque Country, have adopted standardised liveries, some autonomous communities give their municipal police greater freedom to choose their vehicle liveries. As a result, municipal police forces of Alcobendas,[62] Alcorcón,[63] Colmenar Viejo and Rivas-Vaciamadrid in the Community of Madrid,[64][65] the city of Seville,[66] Benacazón and Paradas in the Province of Seville,Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Algeciras in Andalusía,[67] and Barañáin in Navarre[68] have adopted either blue-and-yellow Battenburg-style markings or a livery based on the markings.

File:Battenburg-police.svg Some municipal police forces Yellow and blue

Sweden

File:Polisbil Volvo 2017 - 5861.jpg
Swedish Volvo V90 police car with Battenburg markings (2017)
File:Saab9-5Polisbil.jpg
Saab 9-5 (2011)

Originally Swedish Police vehicles were painted with black roofs and doors or black roofs, bonnet, and boot. During the 1980s the cars became white with the word Script error: No such module "Lang". written on the side. LaterScript error: No such module "Unsubst". the livery became simply blue and white. In 2005 they began using a light blue and fluorescent yellow Battenburg livery. Swedish police cars have been Saabs, Volvos or Volkswagens, with the same livery all over Sweden. Many Swedish road agencies, contractors and consultants use Battenburg markings on road maintenance vehicles, with an orange-and-blue colour scheme, as in the UK rail response type shown above. This practice was established after a study in 2008 by the Swedish Road Administration, which showed a significant traffic calming effect when using orange-and-blue Battenburg marking to improve the visibility of road maintenance vehicles.[69]

Common Battenburg markings used in Sweden
Battenburg Service Colours Example
File:Battenburg-police.svg Police Yellow and blue File:Polisbil Volvo 2017 - 5861.jpg
File:Battenburg-ambulance.svg Ambulance Yellow and green File:Ambulance in Gothenburg (cropped).jpg
File:Battenburg-fire.svg Fire Brigade Yellow and red File:RDW604b.JPG
File:Battenburg-rail.svg Road maintenance Blue and orange File:Swedish roadwork vehicle.jpg

Switzerland

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File:Garde Frontiere, Geneva Airport, Le Grand-Saconnex (BL7C0759).jpg
Swiss Border Guard vehicle

The first Swiss ambulance service with Battenburg markings was the emergency medical services in Zofingen. Since 2008, they have used Battenburg markings on their Volkswagen Crafters and Mercedes-Benz Sprinters. They use white-and-red markings on their ALS units.

Another Swiss service with Battenburg markings is the Swiss Border Guard agency, which uses yellow block markings on its vehicles.

Common Battenburg markings used in Switzerland
File:Battenburg-coastguard.svg Swiss Border Guard Yellow and navy blue

Thailand

File:2014 Toyota Commuter 3.0 Khon Kaen Hospital Ambulance (Rear).jpg
A Toyota Hiace ambulance in Khon Kaen, Thailand

In Khon Kaen Province of Thailand, the Kohn Kaen Hospital features yellow-and-green Battenburg markings on their ambulances.

File:Battenburg-ambulance.svg Khon Kaen Hospital (Ambulance) Yellow and green

Trinidad and Tobago

File:Police car of Tobago 01.jpg
A Toyota RAV4 Battenburg Police SUV in Trinidad and Tobago

The T.T.P.S. Police of Trinidad and Tobago uses half Battenburg yellow-and-blue Battenburg reflective markings on some of their vehicles.

File:Battenburg-police.svg National Highways & Motorways (Police Force) Yellow and blue

United Kingdom

File:London June 7 2016 029 Police (26918177123).jpg
A BMW X5 of the Metropolitan Police Service in London, with half-Battenburg markings
File:Welsh BTP Volvo Side.jpg
A Volvo XC60 of the British Transport Police in Chester Train Station, with Batternburg markings in full.
File:HATO Vehicle.JPG
A Land Rover Discovery used by National Highways traffic officers with yellow-and-black Battenburg markings
File:Network Rail van Castleton East Junction.jpg
A Network Rail van with a narrow strip of red-and-blue Battenburg markings

In the United Kingdom, the majority of the emergency services have adopted the Battenburg style of markings; nearly half of all police forces adopted the markings within three years of their introduction, and over three quarters were using it by 2003.[1]

In 2004, following the widespread adoption and recognition of the Battenburg markings on police vehicles, the Home Office recommended that all police vehicles, not just those on traffic duty, use "half-Battenburg" livery, formalising the practice of a number of forces.

In the United Kingdom each emergency service has been allocated a specified darker colour in addition to yellow, with the police continuing to use blue, ambulances using green, and the fire service their traditional red. Other government agencies such as immigration enforcement have adopted a variation, without using the reflective yellow.[70]

The use of these colours in retro-reflective material is controlled by the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989, with vehicles only legally allowed the use of amber reflective material (and red near the rear of the vehicle).[71][72] A number of civilian organisations have also adopted the pattern, which is not legally protected, and a number of these also use other reflective colours.

An alternative to the use of reflective materials is the use of fluorescent or other non-reflective markings, which may be used by any vehicle.

Common Battenburg markings used in the United Kingdom[73][74]
Battenburg Service Colours Example
File:Battenburg-police.svg Police Yellow and blue File:City of London Police (12546796895).jpg
File:Battenburg-ambulance.svg Ambulance and Doctors Yellow and green File:LJ58OJX LONDON AMBULANCE QUEEN VICTORIA STREET CITY OF LONDON (26124592264).jpg
File:Battenburg-fire.svg Fire and Rescue, occasionally beach lifeguards Yellow and red File:London Fire Brigade Pump Ladder Soho A241 (cropped).jpg
File:Battenburg-blood.svg NHS Blood and Transplant, Blood Bikes and some 4×4 responders Yellow and orange File:NHS Blood and Transplant vehicle in Glasgow.jpg
File:Battenburg-highways.svg National Highways traffic officers, Welsh Government traffic officers and DVSA Yellow and black File:HATO Vehicle.JPG
File:Rail Response Markings.png Rail Response Red and blue File:Network Rail van Castleton East Junction.jpg
File:Battenburg-mountain.svg Mountain Rescue, Lowland Rescue, and Cave Rescue and most 4×4 responders White and orange[74][75][76][77] File:2018 Land Rover Discovery SE SD4 Automatic Mountain Rescue Unit 2.0.jpg
File:Battenburg-coastguard.svg HM Coastguard Yellow and navy blue File:Mitsubishi L200 Coastguard (2020).jpg
File:Civil Defence Markings.png Civil Defence, such as The Joint Civil Aid Corps Orange and blue[78] Link to image
File:Battenburg-IE.png Immigration Enforcement, Border Force,[79][80] HM Customs and ExciseScript error: No such module "Unsubst". Sky blue and navy blue[70] File:Home Office Immigration Enforcement vehicle north Finchley.jpg
File:Battenburg-MineRescue.svg Mine Rescue Service Green and Blue Link to image

United States

File:Chicago Police (51574643391).jpg
A Sillitoe tartan-marked police car used by the Chicago Police Department

Battenburg markings on emergency vehicles are generally uncommon in the United States, though some municipalities have begun using them in recent years.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

The Miami Township Police Department in Ohio has previously used ones similar to those found in the UK on their police cars.[81] Battenburg markings are also used in South Carolina's Charleston County for EMS vehicles.[82]

From 2017 to 2021, the Pittsburgh Police used Sillitoe tartan markings on some of their fleets. The design was updated to include black-and-gold Battenburg markings in 2021 to represent the city's official colours. City authorities stated that the markings would also be applied to all future municipal vehicles.[83]

The Chicago Police Department began using Sillitoe tartan markings on their police vehicles in 2018,[84] while the hats of officers have used them since 1967.[85]

Red and yellow Battenburg markings can be seen on most of the ambulances in the City of Chicago for the Chicago Fire Department.[86]

See also

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

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  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  61. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  62. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  63. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  64. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  65. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  66. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  67. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  68. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  69. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  70. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  71. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  72. ↑ although the emergency services operate under temporary special orders under section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to use their own colours, with moves underway as of 2008Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". to formalise this in legislation and extend the use of other colours to civilian operators.Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  73. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Illustrations of patterns supplied to emergency services.
  74. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  75. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  76. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  77. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  78. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  79. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  80. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  81. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  82. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  83. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  84. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  85. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  86. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Script error: No such module "Side box".

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