Battenburg refers to a pattern of high-visibility markings used to maximise conspicuity, originally on vehicles, but since used in a variety of other applications such as uniforms. It is primarily used by the emergency services, having been first developed for the United Kingdom police forces to use on traffic patrol cars, although other private organisations and civil emergency services have since started to use the pattern on their vehicles.
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History
Battenburg markings were originally developed by the Police Scientific Development Board (PDSB) at the request of the national motorway policing sub-committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers. The brief was to create a livery for motorway and trunk road police vehicles which would maximise the visibility of the vehicles when stopped on scene, both in daylight, and under headlights from a minimum distance of 500m, and which would distinctively mark it as a police car.[1] The key research objectives included:
- "Enhance officer and public safety by reducing the likelihood of road accidents where conspicuity of the police vehicle is a factor"
- "Be recognisable as a police vehicle up to a distance of 500 metres in normal daylight"
- "Assist in high visibility policing so as to reassure the public and enhance the potential deterrent benefits of proactive traffic patrol activity"
The research showed the human eye is most sensitive to blue/green shades at night and yellow/green in daylight. The battenburg design typically comprises 2 or more rows of alternating retroreflective squares or blocks, usually starting with yellow at the top, then the alternating colour, along the sides of a vehicle. The battenburg livery is not used on the rear of vehicles, with the majority of users using upward facing chevrons in yellow and red to the rear, in line with the markings used by other road users. Whilst most cars use only two rows in the design, larger vehicles can be marked with more rows.[2][3] Following their launch, the similarity to the pattern of battenburg cake was noticed, and the name was soon regularly applied to the high conspicuity design.
Sillitoe Tartan
During the development of battenburg markings, one of the key functions was to clearly identify a vehicle as being linked to the police. In addition to the advantages in effectiveness tests, the pattern was also reminiscent of the Sillitoe Tartan pattern of black-and-white or blue-and-white chequered markings, first introduced by City of Glasgow Police in the 1930s, and subsequently adopted as a symbol of police services as far away as Chicago and Australia. Subsequent to the launch of the markings of the vehicles, the police introduced retro-reflective versions of the Sillitoe tartan markings to their uniforms, usually in blue and white, rather than blue and yellow used on vehicles.
Usage
In the United Kingdom, the majority of the emergency services have adopted the battenburg style of markings, with nearly half of all police forces adopting the markings within three years of its introduction, and over three quarters using it by 2003.[1] In 2004, following the widespread adoption and recognition of the battenburg markings on police vehicles, the Home Office subsequently recommended that all police vehicles, not just those on traffic duty, be marked up with a 'half-battenburg' livery which formalised a position which had already been undertaken by a number of forces. In the United Kingdom, the emergency services have chosen or been given certain colours which identify them, with the police continuing to use the blue, whereas ambulances tend to use green and the fire service use red. The use of these colours in retro-reflective material is controlled by the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989, with civilian vehicles only legally allowed the use of yellow retro-reflective material.[4] However, a number of civilian organisations have adopted the pattern, which is not legally protected, and a number of these also use other retro-reflective colours. An alternative to the use of retro-reflective materials is the use of fluorescent markings, or other non-reflective markings, which at least in the United Kingdom can be used by any vehicle, regardless of ownership or purpose.
Common battenburg markings
| Common battenburg markings used in the United Kingdom |
|
 |
Police |
 |
Ambulance and doctors |
 |
Fire and Rescue |
 |
National Blood Service |
 |
Highways Agency |
 |
Rail response |
 |
Mountain rescue |
Other countries
New Zealand
The New Zealand Police liveries are checkered Battenburg markings orange-blue (general duties) or yellow-blue (highway patrol), as well as cars in standard factory colours.
Sweden
Originally Swedish Police vehicle were painted black and white but in the reverse of the Los Angeles Police pattern. Swedish police vehicles had black roofs and doors or black roofs, bonnet and boot. This was a necessity due to the heavy snows Sweden acquires. Later they became just blue and in 2005 they changed to a light blue and fluorescent yellow livery (Battenburg markings). Most Swedish police cars are either Volvos or Saabs, with the same livery all over Sweden.
Gallery
 A Ford Focus police response car of the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary with the common blue light bar in the blue and white Sillitoe tartan |
 City of London Police on general patrol. |
 Police van with City of London logo and Battenburg markings - April 2007 |
 A British Transport Police Land Rover. |
 A British Transport Police motorcycle in London |
 Two Mercedes Sprinter vehicles of the Scottish Ambulance Service in green and yellow Battenburg markings |
 A typical Highways Agency Traffic Officer vehicle in black and yellow |
 Swedish Volvo V70 police car. |
 New Zealand Police Highway Patrol Vehicle |
 Australia's Northern Territory Police on the Stuart Highway |
See also
- Emergency medical services in the United Kingdom
- Fire service in the United Kingdom
- List of police forces in the United Kingdom
- Blues and twos
- Black and white (slang)
References
- ^ a b Harrison, Paul (2004). "High-Conspicuity Livery for Police Vehicles". Home Office.
- ^ http://www.ukemergency.co.uk/police/dscd0752.jpg
- ^ http://www.ukemergency.co.uk/police/dsc06530.jpg
- ^ Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989: Schedule 17.
External links
- The Home Office Scientific Development Branch website
- High Conspicuity Livery for Police Cars 14-04
- High Conspicuity Livery for Police Motorcycles 47-06
