whats the law on spot lights ?

[bunnymofo]

hello, whats the law regarding a light bar on the roof and spots on the front bumper ?
do they have to come on with main beam ? dose there have to be a seperate switch so you can have just main beam ?
cheers

 

[Chr1s]

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f16/foglight-mot-law-help-205355-3.html

The word :

You are required by law to have 2 headlights that are capable of being dipped .
Other lights on front are auxillary , they can be "fog lights" , these are called and act as that by reason of where they are mounted and how and when they operate. eg they are allowed to be on together with dipped headlights, one pair of fogs only , and this is only in conditions of reduced visability. Other auxillary lights must extinguish when the head lights are dipped, there are no limits as to quantity and there are few requirements as to position . All auxillary lights fogs or otherwise must be symetrically mounted in matched pairs . The full requirements are in the Road vehicle lighting regs 1989 ( as amended) . Only obligatory lights are required to be tested at MOT . HTSH

In addition to this, my understanding was that roof lights must not be used on a public highway, but I'm not 100% on this.

 

[brian47]

There are plenty of threads on this subject on the forum if you search.

As far as I know, and I'm prepared to be contradicted, roof bar lights are unlawful for road use but OK for off-road use; they can be as bright and powerful as you want or the vehicle can handle.

Bumper mounted spot lights are OK for road use with the following conditions usually:

• They should be mounted in pairs equally spaced around the centre-line of the vehicle.
• The maximum lawful power of each lamp should not exceed 55 watts.
• They can be used as driving lights in association with the headlights main beam and should be arranged to go off when driving on dipped headlights.
• A switching arrangement can be fitted so that they can be switched off separately to the headlights, although this is advised and not a definite requirement.
• They should be aimed so as not to cause annoyance or dazzle to other road users.

Other members might say that they operate 100W lamps or do this or that, but by sticking to the points I've advised then you should be OK, they are the lawful requirements, and as we all know, the difference between unlawful and illegal is getting caught!

 

[bunnymofo]

perfect, cheers for the help

 

[timtheenchanteruk]

Brians pretty much got it on, not sure on the not dazzle road users, if they come on with hi-beam, your gonna dazzle em anyway, lights should be dipped if passing other vehicles.

The thing is, you can put on whatever you want, and it'll pass an MOT, auxillery lights are not tested, and will only fail if they have sharp edges etc, which is why many get away with non legal lights, on previous motors I've got through MOTs with 100W headlight bulbs (before I knew any better).
Personally, I have a light bar, wired so they can be operated with the hi-beam, or independently, or not at all.

 

[brian47]

Brians pretty much got it on, not sure on the not dazzle road users, if they come on with hi-beam, your gonna dazzle em anyway, lights should be dipped if passing other vehicles.

Just saying what it says in the regs, which applies to all vehicle lighting.
On mine, I've arranged for the aim to be a smidginette down and left. I lined them up against a wall with a bit of chalk and a tape measure.

Note:
A smidgin is a little bit less than only just and a smidginette is even less than that.

 

[SteNova]

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f16/foglight-mot-law-help-205355-3.html



In addition to this, my understanding was that roof lights must not be used on a public highway, but I'm not 100% on this.

I cant see that being an issue as some came with them as standard

 

[whitto999]

The Nissan xtrail has roof lights also seen loads of lorries with lights above the cab.

 

[RobRainford]

If your gonna mount big bright lights on the roof then you should really know that you aren't using them as normal headlights. If they are switched on you turn them off when someone comes the other way. Just like main beam headlights. Fit em where you want as long as they are in pairs!

 

[Jongould]

You can have as many 'driving lights' as you want as long as they are switchable. You can use on a public highway as long as it's only during full beam conditions...

 

[DIFFLOCK66]

Never knew it was 55W limit either...

Many years ago I used to have a Cavalier Coupe (Opel Manta with a Vauxhall badge) with a quad headlight conversion and two rather large spotlights (switchable - on or off when mains selected). All were 100W main. the two outer headlights were 80W dipped.

Coming back home down a dark, lonely, unlit M62 I was running all lights on, almost lighting up the entire carriageway (BOTH sides ). A faster car comes to overtake me, so I dipped the lights... he still overtook me, but he reduced his passing speed!

 

[SteNova]

Fit em where you want as long as they are in pairs!

pairs?

 

[Jongould]

I dot think they have to be pairs, as long as they are not a level requirement light (I.e. Headlights) it doesn't matter, look up VW cyclops light, they are perfectly legal...

 

[SteNova]

while we are on with lights..... has anyone else apart from me fitted alley lights?

 

[blue beasty]

pairs?

Symetrical around the centre line of the vehicle

 

[richards123]

I follow the rule that if my full beams are on then no-one is going to see them on as I dip them if im likely to blind anyone with them............ and its always satisfying to flash all of them when someone doesn't dim theirs.

Regarding the law though, I always thought that if you had a light fitted then it had to work and I think the same rules apply for trailer sockets.... slight deviation there but always good to check in the event of a tight mot tester though.

 

[tacr2man]

only obligatory lights have to work if fitted (which they have to be), exception is any indicator light , obligatory or not . The wattage limits come about by having to be CE standard , if used as auxiliary lights on the road . Obligatory lights wattage are specified in RVLR . There used to be limits on fitting high aux lights but that has gone, but there still is a requirement not to dazzle oncoming traffic with penalties if you do . HTSH