General Laws/Regulations Regarding Fog and Reverse Light

[Todger182]

I'm tempted on a set of lights but they are EU spec rather than UK, so the fog and reverse lights are the opposite way around.

I was thinking that I could just switch the wiring over so that it was correct for those lights, but some deeper thought is making me worry more about the police and MOT inspectors.

Would it still be legal, or will I be pulled and spanked?

Thanks

X

 

[mrcinquecento]

as long as the lights display the correct colours, it will be fine

 

[dronenrs]

you dont even need a reversing light. its only a curtosy light. but yeah long as its all there it dont matter what side its on

 

[clock34]

reverse light is not a MOT requirement.... the fog on the wrong side is... it HAS to be on the right... as thats closer to the center of the road..

just wire them up as is but get a white bulb for the other side and a red one for the passanger..... it works well.... well if your looking at the tinted eu lights .

another aproach would to have two reverse lights and put a foglight in the center of the grill on the rear bumper... low down like on some pugs.... looks ace imo. would look really good on a cento if done right.




anyways though. fog must be ont he right... im sure its a mot test too as they turn mine on when i have it tested.

 

[Todger182]

Just read that the fog light needs to be located on the drivers side of the vehicle no matter which country.

Found on wiki:

In Europe and other countries adhering to ECE Regulation 48, vehicles must be equipped with one or two bright red "rear fog lamps" (or "fog taillamps"), which serve as high-intensity rear position lamps to be energised by the driver in conditions of poor visibility to enhance vehicle conspicuity from the rear. The allowable range of intensity for a rear fog lamp is 150 to 300 candelas, which is within the range of a U.S. stop lamp. For this reason, some European vehicles imported to the United States have their rear fog lamps wired as stop lamps, since their European-specification stop lamps may not be sufficiently intense to comply with U.S. regulations, and in North America rear fog lamps are not required equipment. However, they are permitted, and are found almost exclusively on European-brand vehicles in North America — Audi, Jaguar, Mercedes, MINI, Land Rover, Porsche, Saab and Volvo provide functional rear fog lights on their North American models. The final generation Oldsmobile Aurora also had dual rear fog lights installed in the rear bumper as standard equipment.
Most jurisdictions permit rear fog lamps to be installed either singly or in pairs. If a single rear fog is fitted, most jurisdictions require it to be located at or to the driver's side of the vehicle's centreline — whichever side is the prevailing driver's side in the country in which the vehicle is registered. This is to maximise the sight line of following drivers to the rear fog lamp. In many cases, a single reversing lamp is mounted on the passenger side of the vehicle, positionally symmetrical with the rear fog. If two rear fog lamps are fitted, they must be symmetrical with respect to the vehicle's centreline. Proponents of twin rear fog lamps say two lamps provide vehicle distance information not available from a single lamp. Proponents of the single rear fog lamp say dual rear fog lamps closely mimic the appearance of illuminated stop lamps (which are mandatorily installed in pairs), reducing the conspicuity of the stop lamps' message when the rear fogs are activated. To provide some safeguard against rear fog lamps being confused with stop lamps, ECE R48 requires a separation of at least 10 cm between the closest illuminated edges of any stop lamp and any rear fog lamp

Thanks

X

 

[Pep0]

You could fit a Red LED stop light 'bulb' in place of the reverse light clear bulb, and wire it to the fog light on the other side,should get an MoT, or pas a Cop request to demonstrate lights.

But in event of an accident or if you annoyed a cop they can inspect the annotation on the lenses...

Noel

 

[Todger182]

I think what I may try and do is swap the lenses over to make them legal to the UK requirements.

Shouldn't be too difficult, just worried though as they are plastic rather than plastic and glass.

Failing that just do a full LHD conversion on the car .

Thanks

X

 

[David C]

Failing that just do a full LHD conversion on the car .

It would still fail an MOT.
A LHD car registered in the UK still needs a fog light on the right.

Not an issue with cars that have a rear fog on both sides, but is an issue with cars that only have a single rear fog.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

It would still fail an MOT.
A LHD car registered in the UK still needs a fog light on the right.

Not an issue with cars that have a rear fog on both sides, but is an issue with cars that only have a single rear fog.

:yeahthat: equally the fog unit normally has a reflector unit in it to make it alot more intense. Reverse doesn't always have this so simply swapping wiring around won't work either.

 

[Todger182]

As far as I can tell in regards to that the reflectors appear to be the same.

Both are extremely bright even on my units.

Thanks

X

 

[dave]

how come some cars like small pus get away with them in the middle then?

 

[Todger182]

They can be in the middle, or on the drivers side incording to that wiki quote.

Thanks

X

 

[cc1]

So with reference to ECE Regulation 48, To drive a vehicle equiped with a single fog light on the drivers side is against the law when chaging from LHD / RHD countries and vise versa?
No trips abroad for Cinqs and Seicentos.

 

[clock34]

just get one of them bright RED LED strips and hide them under the light unit.... so far under you cant see it but engough so when there on its visible... you can then have the fog there and hidden cheap answer too.

 

[David C]

So with reference to ECE Regulation 48, To drive a vehicle equiped with a single fog light on the drivers side is against the law when chaging from LHD / RHD countries and vise versa?
No trips abroad for Cinqs and Seicentos.

Not an issue to drive overseas.
It is just an issue when registering and testing.

 

[Pep0]

The plastic lenses have Codes embossed on them a Cop can detect you are illegal, if he is so minded, and inspector after an accident ditto.

Noel