The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989

PART IE+W+SRequirements relating to obligatory front position lamps and to optional front position lamps to the extent specified in part ii

1.  Number–

(a) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f):

Two

(b) A pedal cycle with less than four wheels and without a sidecar:

One

(c) A solo motor bicycle:

One

(d) A motor bicycle combination with a headlamp on the motor bicycle:

One, on the sidecar

(e) An invalid carriage:

One

(f) A vehicle drawn or propelled by hand:

One

2.  Position–

(a) Longitudinal:

No requirement

(b) Lateral–

(i)Where two front position lamps are required to be fitted–

(A)Maximum distance from the side of the vehicle–

(1)A motor vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1986:

400 mm

(2)A trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985:

150 mm

(3)Any other vehicle manufactured on or after 1st October 1985:

400 mm

(4)A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and any other vehicle manufactured before 1st October 1985:

510 mm

(B)Minimum separation distance between front position lamps:

No requirement

(ii)Where one front position lamp is required to be fitted–

(A)A sidecar forming part of a motor bicycle combination:

On the centre-line of the sidecar or on the side of the sidecar furthest from the motor bicycle

(B)Any other vehicle:

On the centre-line or off-side of the vehicle

(c) Vertical–

(i)Maximum height above the ground–

(A)Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (B), (C) or (D):

1500 mm or, if the structure of the vehicle makes this impracticable, 2100 mm

(B)A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985:

2300 mm

(C)A motor vehicle, first used on or after 1st April 1986, having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph:

2100 mm

(D)A [F1bus] and a road clearance vehicle:

No requirement

(ii)Minimum height above the ground

No requirement

3.  Angles of visibility–

(a) A motor vehicle (not being a motor bicycle combination or an agricultural vehicle) first used on or after 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985–

(i)Horizontal–

(A)Where one lamp is required to be fitted:

80° to the left and to the right

(B)Where two lamps are required to be fitted:

80° outwards and 45° inwards (5° inwards in the case of a trailer)

(ii)Vertical–

(A)Any case not covered by sub-paragraph (B):

15° above and below the horizontal

(B)Where the highest part of the illuminated area of the lamp is less than 750 mm above the ground:

15° above and 5° below the horizontal

(b) Any other vehicle:

Visible to the front

4.  Alignment:

To the front

5.  Markings [F2(see also regulation 3(6))]–

(a) A motor vehicle (other than a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination) first used on or after 1st January 1972 and a trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985:

An approval mark

(b) A solo motor bicycle and a motor bicycle combination in either case first used on or after 1st April 1986:

An approval mark

(c) Any other vehicle manufactured or first used on or after 1st October 1990 [F3and before the 1st October 1995]:

An approval mark or a British Standard mark

[F4(ca) Any other vehicle manufactured on or after the 1st October 1995:

An approval mark or the British Standard mark which is specified in [F5sub-paragraph (b), (c) or (d)] of the definition of “British Standard mark” below.]

(d) Any other vehicle:

No requirement

6.  Size of illuminated area:

No requirement

7.  Colour:

White or, if incorporated in a headlamp which is capable of emitting only a yellow light, yellow

8.  Wattage:

No requirement

9.  Intensity–

(a) A front position lamp bearing any of the markings mentioned in paragraph 5:

No requirement

(b) Any other front position lamp:

Visible from a reasonable distance

10.  Electrical connections:

No individual requirement

11.  Tell-tale:

No requirement

Textual Amendments

F1Word in Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 2(c)(i)(D) substituted (1.10.1994) by The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/2280), regs. 1(2), 17(4)

Commencement Information

I1Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 1 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)

I2Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 2 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)

I3Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 3 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)

I4Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 4 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)

I5Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 5 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)

I6Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 6 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)

I7Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 7 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)

I8Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 8 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)

I9Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 9 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)

I10Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 10 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)

I11Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 11 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)

12.  Other requirements–E+W+S

(a) Except in the case of a vehicle covered by sub-paragraph (b), where two front position lamps are required to be fitted they shall form a pair.

(b) In the case of a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985 and a motor bicycle combination, where two front position lamps are required to be fitted they shall be fitted on each side of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

(c) [F6in the case of a front position lamp capable of emitting a flashing light which is fitted to—

(i)a pedal cycle; or

(ii)a trailer drawn by, or a sidecar attached to, a pedal cycle;

the light shown by the lamp when flashing shall be displayed not less than 60 nor more than 240 equal times per minute and the intervals between each display of light shall be constant.]

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I12Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 12 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)

13.  Definitions–E+W+S

  • In this Schedule–

  • “approval mark” means–

    (a)

    in relation to a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination, a marking designated as an approval mark by regulation 4 of the Designation of Approval Marks Regulations and shown at item 50A of Schedule 2 to those Regulations, and

    (b)

    in relation to any other F7... vehicleF7..., either–

    (i)

    a marking designated as an approval mark by regulation 5 of the Designation of Approval Marks Regulations and shown at item 5 of Schedule 4 to those Regulations, or

    (ii)

    a marking designated as an approval mark by regulation 4 of the Designation of Approval Marks Regulations and shown at item 7 of Schedule 2 to those Regulations;

  • [F8“British Standard mark” means—

    (a)

    the mark indicated in the specification for photometric and physical requirements for lighting equipment published by the British Standards Institution under the reference BS 6102: Part 3: 1986 namely “6102/3”; or

    (b)

    the mark indicated in the specification for photometric and physical requirements for lighting equipment published by the British Standards Institution under the reference BS 6102: Part 3: 1986 as amended by AMD 5821 published on the 29th April 1988, namely “6102/3”;] [F9or]

    (c)

    [F9the mark indicated in the specification for photometric and physical requirements for lighting equipment published by the British Standards Institution under the reference BS 6102: Part 3: 1986 as amended by AMD 8438 published on the 15th April 1995, namely “6102/3”; or

    (d)

    the mark indicated in the specification for photometric and physical requirements for lighting equipment published by the British Standards Institution under the reference BS 6102: Part 3: 1986 as amended by AMD 14621 published on the 1st September 2003, namely “6102/3”.]

Textual Amendments

F7Words in Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 13 omitted (1.10.1994) by virtue of The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/2280), regs. 1(2), 11(2)(a)

F8Words in Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 13 substituted (1.10.1994) by The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/2280), regs. 1(2), 11(2)(b)

Commencement Information

I13Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 13 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)