Styling Day Running Lights

[Most Easterly Pandas]

http://www.hids4u.co.uk/daytime-run...pZj7GKemEn4LWC55SP9zDuHQjfOvBlIFq0aAlT18P8HAQ

Nice idea, but I'll pass as its still got 4yrs on the warranty etc, not planning on fiddling quite yet

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Hi Andy,
I've not gone through the UK road vehicle regulations as you have to start with the 1998 version and then go throught all the amendments. In theory they should harmonise with the EU ones eventually. If you only comply with the UK regs you may have issues if you ever drive on the continent.
The is also a semantic issue, I used the UK common term "sidelights" for the low power white front mounted lights. Technically these are "front position lights" and schedule 2 of the UK regs apply (schedule 9 is "side marker lights").
The '98 regs (unammended) do not directly proscribe multiple sidelights, but part II paragraph 20 requires that optional light must meet the requirements. This means they must still be approval marked and be in the correct locations. Also note that the regulations for lorries are differnt to cars. Just because some trucks are covered with lights does not mean they are legal. The blue or green lights often seen on the front of trucks are illegal and there seems to have been a bit of a crackdown recently (under UK regs blue lights are illegal (unless on an emergency vehicle) even if they don't work. Even something that resembles a blue light comes underthis rule).

Robert.

I'm a bit confused why you would go through the EU regulations before the UK regulations. Essentially the 1989 (not 1998) lighting regulations are UK Law and the European regulations don't change this.

EU regulations apply to type approved cars in the UK which allows the use of LEDs and HID lights, but those laws do not over ride any of the UK laws as such a type approved car may be allowed HID lights but a old UK based car is not legally allowed to have them fitted out side of the type approval system. Even if the box of lights has all the relevant EU safety markings and approvals. No amendments in the UK regulations cover the use of anything other than filament type bulbs so LEDs and HIDs are illegal by UK law

The flip side of this is there are a huge number of side lights and marker lights which have the relevant approval markings under EU law which can be fitted to vehicles in the UK as the 1989 regulation do not specifically dis allow them. Including the multiple lights all over trucks and lorries. (Schedule 2 or schedule 9 is makes no difference there is no upper limit for either)

The use of blue or green lights is again not speciffically 'illegal' under UK regulations which is where you need to look into it further, the blue light discussion has been done to death on numerous ambulance and first aid forums, which is why I can't be bothered to go into it here but these discussions usually begin "I did a 2 day first aid course and now I should be allowed blue lights"

 

[g8rpi]

Hi,
Sorry about the transposition of the regulation date. I looked at EU regs as this is a multinational forum and they are applicable to the UK. If you meet the EU reg and the UK regs do not cover the exact situation, you cn at lease claim good practice which should cover you for any of the general clauses.
On Blue lights regulation 16 says,
"16. No vehicle, other than an emergency vehicle, shall be fitted with–
(a)a blue warning beacon or special warning lamp, or
(b)a device which resembles a blue warning beacon or a special warning lamp, whether the same is in working order or not. "
It is also aginst the uk rules to show other than a white/yellow/amber light to the front of a vehicle. I know of specific cases (in courts local to me at the time) where drivers were convicted for a: Having a bulb behind a red nose on a mini and b: having red and blue lenses on an american motor cycle that was also painted to to like an american police bike. There were no bilbs, holders or wiring behind the lenses and the backs were painted with opaque paint. The is a general exemption, 4(4), that says painting out or disconnecting unapproved lights is the same as removing them but this specifically does not apply to regulation 16.
There is no current requirement for lamps to have a filament, but filament lamps in required lights must be approved and marked. My old paper copy of the 1984 regs required filaments, but I don't know when it was dropped.

I don't want to get into an argument about this so will end it here, the final say is always in the courts.
Regards,
Robert.