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Home :: Road Lighting Regs

Road Lighting Regs

Road Lighting Regs

The conditions described below are provided by lightbar-shop.co.uk, and  are set as a guide and We cannot be held responsible for any mistakes or misinterpretations that exist or for any action taken after reading this 

Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989:

Links to www.opsi.gov.uk

ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

 

1. 

Commencement, citation and revocation

2. 

Statement under section 43(3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988

3. 

Interpretation

4. 

Exemptions—General

5. 

—Temporarily imported vehicles and vehicles proceeding to a port for export

6. 

—Vehicles towing or being towed

7. 

—Military vehicles

8. 

—Invalid carriages

9. 

—Vehicles drawn or propelled by hand

10. 

Provision as respects the Trade Descriptions Act 1968

 

PART II

Regulations Governing the Fitting of Lamps, Reflectors, Rear Markings and Devices

11. 

Colour of light shown by lamps and reflectors

12. 

Movement of lamps and reflectors

13. 

Lamps to show a steady light

14. 

Filament lamps

15. 

General requirements for electrical connections

16. 

Restrictions on fitting blue warning beacons, special warning lamps and similar devices

17. 

Obligatory warning beacons

18. 

Obligatory lamps, reflectors, rear markings and devices

19. 

Restrictions on the obscuration of certain lamps and reflectors

20. 

Optional lamps, reflectors, rear markings and devices

21. 

Projecting trailers and vehicles carrying overhanging or projecting loads or equipment

22. 

Additional side marker lamps

PART III

Regulations Governing the Maintenance and Use of Lamps, Reflectors, Rear Markings and Devices

23. 

Maintenance of lamps, reflectors, rear markings and devices

24. 

Requirements about the use of front and rear position lamps, rear registration plate lamps, side marker lamps and end-outline marker lamps

25. 

Requirements about the use of headlamps and front fog lamps

26. 

Requirements about the use of warning beacons

27. 

Restrictions on the use of lamps other than those to which regulation 24 refers

PART IV

Testing and Inspection of Lighting Equipment and Reflectors

28. 

Testing and inspection of lighting equipment and reflectors

 

 

SCHEDULES

     

 

1. 

Obligatory lamps, reflectors, rear markings and devices

 

2. 

Front position lamps

 

3. 

Dim-dip devices and running lamps

 

4. 

Dipped-beam headlamps

 

5. 

Main-beam headlamps

 

6. 

Front fog lamps

 

7. 

Direction indicators

 

8. 

Hazard warning signal devices

 

9. 

Side marker lamps

 

10. 

Rear position lamps

 

11. 

Rear fog lamps

 

12. 

Stop lamps

 

13. 

End-outline marker lamps

 

14. 

Reversing lamps

 

15. 

Rear registration plate lamps

 

16. 

Warning beacons

 

17. 

Side retro reflectors

 

18. 

Rear retro reflectors

 

19. 

Rear markings

 

20. 

Pedal retro reflectors

 

21. 

Front retro reflectors

 

22. 

Diagram showing where unlit parking is not permitted near a junction

 

23. 

Example of marking showing the vertical downwards inclination of the dipped-beam headlamps

 

Explanatory Note

Please also check with the amendments to the above

 

We are unable to provide legal advice on the interpretation of any legislation available on opsi.co.uk website

We would recommend that you:

  • contact the department responsible for the piece of legislation you are enquiring about. Refer to the Explanatory Notes to an Act, the front page of a Statutory Instrument, or the Explanatory Memorandum to a Statutory Instrument for information about the responsible department. The Directgov website lists contact details for each government department.

Or Contact:

 

Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)

The Vehicle Certification Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport and is the national approval authority which decides a set of environmental and safety standards for all new road vehicles, agricultural tractors, off-road vehicles and their individual systems and components.

 

Enquiry line
0117 952 4235

 

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A quick guide to which colour light you require:

Blue Lights

  • Flashing from an emergency vehicle
  • Flashing or constant from a police vehicle

Green Lights

  • Doctor’s car

White Lights

  • Reversing lights
  • Work lamps

Amber Lights

  • Any vehicle’s indicators
  • Amber pedal reflectors or pedal lights 
  • Reflected from a registration plate
  • Reflected from a road clearance vehicle
  • Reflected from a vehicle carrying dangerous substances
  • Reflected on some old or heavy vehicles 

Flashing amber lights on :

  • Road clearance vehicle
  • Bin lorry
  • Breakdown vehicle
  • Vehicle with a 25 mph top speed
  • Vehicle wider than 2.9 metres
  • Roadworks vehicle
  • Escort vehicle
  • Revenue and Customs vehicle
  • Surveying vehicle
  • Clamping or tow truck vehicle
  • Airport vehicles
  • Any other specially authorised vehicle
  • Any flashing warning beacon that rotates must be mounted 1.2 meters above the ground.