Driving lights and the law

Hi all I am getting confused about the law and driving lights I have looked around and cant seem to find the information .

The way I understand it is you can have what ever lights on the front as long as their e marked and controlled by your main beam switch. If its on a seperate switch I think its classed as a front fog light.I might be way off,but I've got a 5 light bonnet pod wired in with my main beams and it goes through mot fine.

Well we have a couple of MOT testers on here and a couple of coppers. Were are they when you need one?

Lets see what there input is on this.
Seems like to many lights on the main beam could cause to much draw/ current, and cause heat to the switch and burn it out?

Thor1950 said:

Well we have a couple of MOT testers on here and a couple of coppers. Were are they when you need one?

Lets see what there input is on this.
Seems like to many lights on the main beam could cause to much draw/ current, and cause heat to the switch and burn it out?

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That's why you use a relay. The switch itself carries very little current.

Mine are on 2 relays. 2 lights on 1 and 3 on the other. Got them on 2 isolator switchs aswell. So no worries about too much draw or over heating

for lighting.
Main (normal) beam can only be one pair of lights, full beam can be as many as you wish as long as they operate via the full beam on the stalk, they should also be able to be isolated so only "normal" full beam operates (not sure is this is recommended or required)
There is a max height of lighting, roof mounted spots are above this so should only operate via their own switch, and not be used on road.

for heights, check the construction and use regs.

timtheenchanteruk said:

for lighting.
Main (normal) beam can only be one pair of lights, full beam can be as many as you wish as long as they operate via the full beam on the stalk, they should also be able to be isolated so only "normal" full beam operates (not sure is this is recommended or required)
There is a max height of , lighting, roof mounted spots are above this so should only operate via their own switch, and not be used on road.

for heights, check the construction and use regs.

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Clear as mud

makes sense to me, have removes a stray "," though

cool thanks

The info you need is contained here
The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989

In a nutshell , there are obligatory lights and auxillary lights , all vehicles need obligatory front and rear lights eg what you call sidelights , inc taillights

When you get to Headlamps then there are different requirements ,
but with regard to landrover type vehicles, which is prob what you are interested in , then two obligatory lamps which give a main beam that can be dipped . There is then the possibility of fitting fog lights , (maximum Qty 2) these are called such by their usage rather than by colour or beam pattern or position (although there are certain limitations on position)
They can be illuminated at same time or as alternative to oblig head lamps mentioned earlier , as long as only used in conditions of reduced vis eg fog , falling snow. Any other light (in matched pairs) can be used with main beam , as long as you observe same requirement as main beam , eg use so as not to cause dazzle etc to other road users. They must be wired that they go out automatically on selection of dipped beam .

forgot to mention running lights these can be used with or without headlamps but are limited by light output

tacr2man said:

The info you need is contained here
The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989

In a nutshell , there are obligatory lights and auxillary lights , all vehicles need obligatory front and rear lights eg what you call sidelights , inc taillights

When you get to Headlamps then there are different requirements ,
but with regard to landrover type vehicles, which is prob what you are interested in , then two obligatory lamps which give a main beam that can be dipped . There is then the possibility of fitting fog lights , these are called such by their usage rather than by colour or beam pattern or position (although there are certain limitations on position)
They can be illuminated at same time or as alternative to oblig head lamps mentioned earlier , as long as only used in conditions of reduced vis eg fog , falling snow. Any other light (in matched pairs) can be used with main beam , as long as you observe same requirement as main beam , eg use so as not to cause dazzle etc to other road users. They must be wired that they go out automatically on selection of dipped beam .

forgot to mention running lights these can be used with or without headlamps but are limited by light output

Click to expand...

Cheers buddy thats just what i needed

From what I can understand of the vehicle lighting regulations regarding fitting and wiring of auxiliary lights (don’t panic, I won’t mention the dreaded HID conversions).

Fog lamps: 2 lamps spaced equally about the centreline of the vehicle front with a maximum distance from the side of the vehicle of 400mm and a maximum height above the ground of 1200mm to the top of the fitting, not the centre. Fog lamps should only be used during periods of limited visibility. From personal experience I find that fitting them low down, such as below the front bumper works best. Fog lamps should be wired on their own separate switch.

Driving lamps: Fitted equally about the centreline of the vehicle front, preferably in pairs, but I have seen fits of 3 and 5 lamps, but the equal spacing rule still applies. There appears to be no regs regarding height or distance from the side of the vehicle but they do tend to be fitted in between the main headlamps and usually above the front bumper and level with the headlamps. Driving lights must be wired so that they only operate while the MAIN beam headlamps are on and they must switch off while dipped beams are being used.

Many users arrange a switch method so that the driving lamps can be switched off all together.

Maximum power of each lamp is generally accepted as 55 or 60 watts for headlamp units and 55 watts for auxiliary lamps (but there are some who use 100 watts and get away with it). Alignment of dipped headlights should be at least 1.3 degrees down and generally towards the nearside kerb. All other lights should be aligned so as not to cause dazzle to other road users.

Lighting bars fitted above the windscreen are not legal for road use. You can fit whatever you want and as powerful as the vehicle electrics can stand but they must be switched off at all times while on the road. They are for off road use only.

I think that about covers it … as far as I read the regs anyway.

Ive been pulled for using my dipped driving lights in fog.......

goonarmy said:

Ive been pulled for using my dipped driving lights in fog.......

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Guy was a fooking moron then High beam should never be used in foggy conditions as the fog will cause them to reflect back at you and dazzle ya.

redhand said:

Guy was a fooking moron then High beam should never be used in foggy conditions as the fog will cause them to reflect back at you and dazzle ya.

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Quite happy to agree and i were quite happy to tell him but he were too busy jumping out in front of other cars in the dark in the fog. So i left him to it.

lab72 said:

Hi all I am getting confused about the law and driving lights I have looked around and cant seem to find the information .

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Found this Halfords Advice Centre | Daytime Running Lights UK Law & Regulations If it's any help. (see regulations)
There was also an article some time ago in LRM on fitting running lights.

Cheers chaps thanks for all your help this forum is so helpful and friendly its a credit to the Land Rover community :tea:

Well all fitted

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