The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989

PART III E+W+S REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE MAINTENANCE AND USE OF LAMPS, REFLECTORS, REAR MARKINGS AND DEVICES

Maintenance of lamps, reflectors, rear markings and devices E+W+S

23.—(1) No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road a vehicle unless every lamp, reflector, rear marking and device to which this paragraph applies is in good working order and, in the case of a lamp, clean.

(2) Save as provided in paragraph (3), paragraph (1) applies to–

(a) every–

(i) front position lamp,

(ii) rear position lamp,

(iii) headlamp,

(iv) rear registration plate lamp,

(v) side marker lamp,

(vi) end-outline marker lamp,

(vii) rear fog lamp,

(viii) retro reflector, F1 ...

(ix) rear marking of a type specified in Part I of F2 ... Schedule 19,

[F3 (x) daytime running lamp,

(xi) headlamp cleaning device, and

(xii) reversing lamp,]

with which the vehicle is required by these Regulations to be fitted; and

(b) every–

(i) stop lamp,

(ii) direction indicator,

(iii) running lamp,

(iv) dim-dip device,

(v) headlamp levelling device, F4 ...

(vi) hazard warning signal device, [F5 and

(vii) front fog lamp,]

with which it is fitted.

(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply to–

(a) a rear fog lamp on a vehicle which is part of a combination of vehicles any part of which is not required by these Regulations to be fitted with a rear fog lamp;

(b) a rear fog lamp on a motor vehicle drawing a trailer;

(c) a defective lamp, reflector, dim-dip device or headlamp levelling device on a vehicle in use on a road between sunrise and sunset, if any such lamp, reflector or device became defective during the journey which is in progress or if arrangements have been made to remedy the defect with all reasonable expedition; F6 ...

(d) a lamp, reflector, dim-dip device, headlamp levelling device or rear marking on a combat vehicle in use on a road between sunrise and sunset; [F7 or

(e) a front fog lamp or a daytime running lamp on a vehicle which was first registered before 1st March 2018.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in reg. 23(2)(a)(viii) omitted (20.5.2018) by virtue of The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/852), regs. 1, 6(a)(i)

F2 Words in reg. 23(2)(a)(ix) omitted (1.10.1994) by virtue of The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/2280), regs. 1(2), 17(3)

F3 Reg. 23(2)(a)(x)-(xii) inserted (20.5.2018) by The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/852), regs. 1, 6(a)(ii)

F4 Word in reg. 23(2)(b)(v) omitted (20.5.2018) by virtue of The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/852), regs. 1, 6(b)(i)

F5 Reg. 23(2)(b)(vii) and word inserted (20.5.2018) by The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/852), regs. 1, 6(b)(ii)

F6 Word in reg. 23(3)(c) omitted (20.5.2018) by virtue of The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/852), regs. 1, 6(c)(i)

F7 Reg. 23(3)(e) and word inserted (20.5.2018) by The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/852), regs. 1, 6(c)(ii)

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 23 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)

[F8 Review E+W+S

23A.— (1) The Secretary of State must from time to time—

(a) carry out a review of the regulatory provision contained in regulations 18 and 23, and in Schedules 1, 14 and 24, which relate to—

(i) daytime running lamps,

(ii) front fog lamps,

(iii) headlamp cleaning devices, and

(iv) reversing lamps, and

(b) publish a report setting out the conclusions of the review.

(2) The first report must be published before 20th May 2023.

(3) Subsequent reports must be published at intervals not exceeding 5 years.

(4) Section 30(3) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 requires that a review carried out under this regulation must, so far as is reasonable, have regard to how Article 6 of Directive 2014/45/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers is implemented in other member States.

(5) Section 30(4) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 requires that a report published under this regulation must, in particular—

(a) set out the objectives intended to be achieved by the regulatory provision referred to in paragraph (1)(a),

(b) assess the extent to which those objectives are achieved,

(c) assess whether those objectives remain appropriate, and

(d) if those objectives remain appropriate, assess the extent to which they could be achieved in another way which involves less onerous regulatory provision.

(6) In this regulation, “regulatory provision” has the same meaning as in sections 28 to 32 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (see section 32 of that Act).]

Textual Amendments

F8 Reg. 23A inserted (20.5.2018) by The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/852), regs. 1, 7

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

24.—(1) Save as provided in paragraphs (5) and (9), no person shall–

(a) use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road any vehicle which is in motion–

(i) between sunset and sunrise, or

(ii) in seriously reduced visibility between sunrise and sunset; or

(b) allow to remain at rest, or cause or permit to be allowed to remain at rest, on a road any vehicle between sunset and sunrise

unless every front position lamp, rear position lamp, rear registration plate lamp, side marker lamp and end-outline marker lamp with which the vehicle is required by these Regulations to be fitted is kept lit and unobscured.

(2) Save as provided in paragraphs (5) and (9), where a solo motor bicycle is not fitted with a front position lamp, no person shall use it, or cause or permit it to be used, on a road (other than when it is parked) between sunset and sunrise or in seriously reduced visibility between sunrise and sunset, unless a headlamp is kept lit and unobscured.

(3) Save as provided in paragraphs (5) and (9), no person shall allow to remain parked, or cause or permit to be allowed to remain parked between sunset and sunrise–

(a) a motor bicycle combination which is required to be fitted only with a front position lamp on the sidecar; or

(b) a trailer to the front of which no other vehicle is attached and which is not required to be fitted with front position lamps,

unless a pair of front position lamps is fitted and kept lit and unobscured.

(4) Save as provided in paragraphs (5) and (9), no person shall allow to remain parked, or cause or permit to be allowed to remain parked between sunset and sunrise a solo motor bicycle which is not required to be fitted with a front position lamp, unless a front position lamp is fitted and kept lit and unobscured.

(5) Paragraphs (1), (2), (3) and (4) shall not apply in respect of a vehicle of a class specified in paragraph (7) which is parked on a road on which a speed limit of 30 mph or less is in force and the vehicle is parked–

(a) in a parking place for which provision is made under section 6, or which is authorised under section 32 or designated under section 45 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, or which is set apart as a parking place under some other enactment or instrument and the vehicle is parked in a manner which does not contravene the provision of any enactment or instrument relating to the parking place; or

(b) in a lay-by–

(i) the limits of which are indicated by a traffic sign consisting of the road marking shown in diagram 1010 in Schedule 2 of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1981(1); or

(ii) the surface of which is of a colour or texture which is different from that of the part of the carriageway of the road used primarily by through traffic; or

(iii) the limits of which are indicated by a continuous strip of surface of a different colour or texture from that of the surface of the remainder of the carriageway of the road; or

(c) elsewhere than in such a parking place or lay-by if–

(i) the vehicle is parked in one of the circumstances described in paragraph (8); and

(ii) no part of the vehicle is less than 10 m from the junction of any part of the carriageway of any road with the carriageway of the road on which it is parked whether that junction is on the same side of the road as that on which the vehicle is parked or not.

(6) Sub-paragraph (5)(c)(ii) shall be construed in accordance with the diagram in Schedule 22.

(7) The classes of vehicle referred to in paragraph (5) are–

(a) a motor vehicle being a goods vehicle [F9 the gross vehicle weight of which does not exceed 2500 kg];

(b) a passenger vehicle other than a bus;

(c) an invalid carriage; and

(d) a motor cycle or a pedal cycle in either case with or without a sidecar;

not being–

(i) a vehicle to which a trailer is attached;

(ii) a vehicle which is required to be fitted with lamps by regulation 21; or

(iii) a vehicle carrying a load, if the load is required to be fitted with lamps by regulation 21.

(8) The circumstances referred to in paragraph (5)(c) are that–

(a) the vehicle is parked on a road on which the driving of vehicles otherwise than in one direction is prohibited at all times and its left or near side is as close as may be and parallel to the left-hand edge of the carriageway or its right or off side is as close as may be and parallel to the right-hand edge of the carriageway; or

(b) the vehicle is parked on a road on which such a prohibition does not exist and its left or near side is as close as may be and parallel to the edge of the carriageway.

(9) Paragraphs (1), (2), (3) and (4) do not apply in respect of–

(a) a solo motor bicycle or a pedal cycle being pushed along the left-hand edge of a carriageway;

(b) a pedal cycle waiting to proceed provided it is kept to the left-hand or near side edge of a carriageway; or

(c) a vehicle which is parked in an area on part of a highway on which roadworks are being carried out and which is bounded by amber lamps and other traffic signs so as to prevent the presence of the vehicle, its load or equipment being a danger to persons using the road.

Textual Amendments

F9 Words in reg. 24(7)(a) substituted (4.1.2010) by The Road Vehicles Lighting and Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/3220), regs. 1, 9

Commencement Information

I2 Reg. 24 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)

Requirements about the use of headlamps and front fog lamps E+W+S

25.—(1) Save as provided in paragraph (2), no person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road a vehicle which is fitted with obligatory dipped-beam headlamps unless every such lamp is kept lit–

(a) during the hours of darkness, except on a road which is a restricted road for the purposes of section 81 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 by virtue of a system of street lighting when it is lit; and

(b) in seriously reduced visibility.

(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) do not apply–

(a) in the case of a motor vehicle fitted with one obligatory dipped-beam headlamp or a solo motor bicycle or motor bicycle combination fitted with a pair of obligatory dipped-beam headlamps, if a main-beam headlamp or a front fog lamp is kept lit;

(b) in the case of a motor vehicle, other than a solo motor bicycle or motor bicycle combination, fitted with a pair of obligatory dipped-beam headlamps, if–

(i) a pair of main-beam headlamps is kept lit; or

(ii) in seriously reduced visibility, a pair of front fog lamps which is so fitted that the outermost part of the illuminated area of each lamp in the pair is not more than 400 mm from the outer edge of the vehicle is kept lit;

(c) to a vehicle being drawn by another vehicle;

(d) to a vehicle while being used to propel a snow plough; or

(e) to a vehicle which is parked.

(3) For the purposes of this regulation a headlamp shall not be regarded as lit if its intensity is reduced by a dim-dip device.

Commencement Information

I3 Reg. 25 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)

Requirements about the use of warning beacons E+W+S

26.  No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on an unrestricted dual-carriageway road a vehicle which is required to be fitted with at least one warning beacon by regulation 17 unless every such beacon is kept lit.

Commencement Information

I4 Reg. 26 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)

Restrictions on the use of lamps other than those to which regulation 24 refers E+W+S

27.  No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road any vehicle on which any lamp, hazard warning signal device or warning beacon of a type specified in an item in column 2 of the Table below is used in a manner specified in that item in column 3.

TABLE

(1)	(2)	(3)
Item No.	Type of lamp, hazard warning signal device or warning beacon	Manner of use prohibited
1	Headlamp	(a) Used so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road. (b) Used so as to be lit when a vehicle is parked.
2	Front fog lamp	(a) Used so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road. (b) Used so as to be lit at any time other than in conditions of seriously reduced visibility. (c) Used so as to be lit when a vehicle is parked.
3	Rear fog lamp	(a) Used so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to the driver of a following vehicle. (b) Used so as to be lit at any time other than in conditions of seriously reduced visibility. (c) Save in the case of an emergency vehicle, used so as to be lit when a vehicle is parked.
4	Reversing lamp	Used so as to be lit except for the purpose of reversing the vehicle.
5	Hazard warning signal device	Used other than– (i) to warn persons using the road of a temporary obstruction when the vehicle is at rest; or (ii) on a motorway or unrestricted dual-carriageway, to warn following drivers of a need to slow down due to a temporary obstruction ahead; or (iii) in the case of a bus, to summon assistance for the driver or any person acting as a conductor or inspector on the vehicle; [F10 or (iv) in the case of a bus to which prescribed signs are fitted as described in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of regulation 17A(1), when the vehicle is stationary and children under the age of 16 years are entering or leaving, or are about to enter or leave, or have just left the vehicle.]
6	Warning beacon emitting blue light and special warning lamp	Used so as to be lit except– (i) at the scene of an emergency; or (ii) when it is necessary or desirable either to indicate to persons using the road the urgency of the purpose for which the vehicle is being used, or to warn persons of the presence of the vehicle or a hazard on the road.
7	Warning beacon emitting amber light	Used so as to be lit except– (i) at the scene of an emergency; (ii) when it is necessary or desirable to warn persons of the presence of the vehicle; F11 ... (iii) in the case of a breakdown vehicle, while it is being used in connection with, and in the immediate vicinity of, an accident or breakdown, or while it is being used to draw a broken-down vehicle. (iv) [F12 in the case of an abnormal load escort vehicle, while it is being used in connection with the escort of another vehicle which has— aa an overall width (including any load) exceeding 2.9 metres; bb an overall length (including any load) exceeding 18.65 metres, o cc been authorised by the Secretary of State under section 44 of the Act; and (v) in the case of a vehicle, used for escort purposes other than an abnormal load escort vehicle, while it is being used in connection with the escort of any vehicle and travelling at a speed not exceeding 25 mph.]
8	Warning beacon emitting green light	Used so as to be lit except whilst occupied by a medical practitioner registered by the General Medical Council (whether with [F13 full or provisional] registration) and used for the purposes of an emergency.
9	Warning beacon emitting yellow light	Used so as to be lit on a road.
10	Work lamp	(a) Used so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to the driver of any vehicle. (b) Used so as to be lit except for the purpose of illuminating a working area, accident, breakdown or works in the vicinity of the vehicle.
11	Any other lamp	Used so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road.

Textual Amendments

F10 Words in reg. 27 Table Item 5 added (1.10.1994) by The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/2280), regs. 1(2), 9(2)

F11 Word in reg. 27 omitted (21.10.2005) by virtue of The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2559), regs. 1, 8(2)

F12 Words in reg. 27 added (21.10.2005) by The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2559), regs. 1, 8(2)

F13 Words in reg. 27 Table Item 8 substituted (19.7.2006 for specified purposes in accordance with art. 1(2)(b) of the amending S.I. as notified in the London Gazette dated 20.7.2007) by The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1914), arts. 1(2)(b)(c)(3), 76(b)

Commencement Information

I5 Reg. 27 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)

(1)

S.I. 1981/859, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.