The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989

1.  Number–

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

(b) A bus first used before 1st April 1955:

(c) A solo motor bicycle:

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

(e) A trailer drawn by a pedal cycle and a trailer, the overall width of which does not exceed 800 mm, drawn by a solo motor bicycle or by a motor bicycle combination:

(f) An invalid carriage having a maximum speed not exceeding 4 mph:

(g) A vehicle drawn or propelled by hand:

(h) A motor vehicle having three or more wheels and a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph and a trailer drawn by any such vehicle if, in either case, the structure of the vehicle makes it impracticable to meet all of the relevant requirements of paragraphs 2 and 3 below with two lamps:

2.  Position–

(a) Longitudinal:

(b) Lateral–

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

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

(1)Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (2):

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

(B)Minimum separation distance between a pair of rear position lamps–

(1)Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (2):

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

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

(iii)Where four lamps are required to be fitted–

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

(1)One pair of lamps:

(2)The other pair of lamps:

(B)Minimum separation distance between rear position lamps–

(1)One pair of lamps:

(2)The other pair of lamps:

(c) Vertical–

(i)Maximum height above the ground where one or two rear position lamps are required to be fitted–

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

(B)A bus first used before 1st April 1986:

(C)A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 not being a bus, a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985, an agricultural vehicle, a horse-drawn vehicle, an industrial tractor and engineering plant:

(ii)Maximum height above the ground where four rear position lamps are required to be fitted–

(A)One pair of lamps:

(B)The other pair of lamps:

(iii)Minimum height above the ground–

(A)A vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (B):

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

3.  Angles of visibility–

(a) A motor vehicle, other than a motor bicycle combination, first used on or after 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985–

(i)Horizontal–

(A)Where two lamp are required to be fitted:

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

(C)Where four lamps are required to be fitted–

(1)The outer pair of lamps:

(2)The inner pair of lamps:

(ii)Vertical–

(A)Where one or two rear position lamps are required to be fitted–

(1)Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (2) or (3):

(2)Where the highest part of the illuminated area of the lamp is less than 1500 mm above the ground:

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

(B)Where four rear position lamps are required to be fitted–

(1)One pair of lamps:

(2)The other pair of lamps:

(b) A motor vehicle, other than a motor bicycle combination, first used before 1st April 1986 and any other vehicle manufactured before 1st October 1985:

(c) A vehicle drawn or propelled by hand, a pedal cycle, a horse-drawn vehicle and a motor bicycle combination:

4.  Alignment:

5.  Markings–

(a) A motor vehicle or a trailer not covered by sub-paragraph (b), (c) or (d):

(b) A motor vehicle first used before 1st January 1974 and a trailer, other than a trailer drawn by a pedal cycle, manufactured before that date:

(c) A solo motor bicycle and a motor bicycle combination, in each case first used before 1st April 1986, and a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985 and drawn by a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination:

(d) A pedal cycle, a trailer drawn by a pedal cycle, an invalid carriage having a maximum speed not exceeding 4 mph, a horse-drawn vehicle and a vehicle drawn or propelled by hand:

6.  Size of illuminated area:

7.  Colour:

8.  Wattage:

9.  Intensity–

(a) A rear position lamp bearing any of the markings mentioned in paragraph 4:

(b) Any other rear position lamp:

10.  Electrical connections:

11.  Tell-tale: