Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 and shall come into operation on 31st March 2005.

Amendment of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

2.  In Part I of Schedule 4 (requirements relating to obligatory dipped-beam headlamps and to optional dipped-beam headlamps to the extent specified in Part II) to the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000(2), for paragraph 4 there shall be substituted –

“4.  Alignment –

When a vehicle is at its kerbside weight and has a weight of 75 kg on the driver’s seat, and any manual headlamp levelling device control is set to the stop position, the alignment of every dipped-beam headlamp shall, as near as practicable, be as follows –

(a)In the case of a vehicle having a maximum speed exceeding 25 mph –

(i)if the dipped-beam headlamp bears an approval mark its aim shall be set so that the horizontal part of the cut-off of the beam pattern is inclined downwards as indicated by the vehicle manufacturer in a marking on the vehicle, as mentioned in sub-paragraph 12(b) or, where no such marking is provided –

(A)1.3 per cent if the height of the centre of the headlamp is not more than 850 mm above the ground, or

(B)2 per cent if the height of the centre of the headlamp is more than 850 mm above the ground;

(ii)if the dipped-beam headlamp does not bear an approval mark and the headlamp can also be used as a main-beam headlamp its aim shall be set so that the centre of the main-beam pattern is horizontal or inclined slightly below the horizontal;

(iii)if the dipped-beam headlamp does not bear an approval mark and the headlamp cannot also be used as a main-beam headlamp its aim shall be set so as not to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road;

(b)In the case of a vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph –

(i)if the dipped-beam headlamp bears an approval mark or not and the headlamp can also be used as a main-beam headlamp its aim shall be set so that the centre of the main-beam pattern is horizontal or inclined slightly below the horizontal;

(ii)if the dipped-beam headlamp bears an approval mark or not and the headlamp cannot also be used as a main-beam headlamp its aim shall be set so as not to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road.”.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations amend the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 so as to specify different requirements for the alignment of dipped-beam headlamps for a vehicle having a maximum speed exceeding 25 mph and a vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph.