Light Bar vs Driving Lights

Jezz wrote: Please don't think i'm being rude, But could you point me to a link or official dvsa type ect website were this is in black and white.

Thank you Jez

X2

I was being blinded by a car the other night with its main beams on and as you do retaliated with my main beam which happens to have a 34" light bar attached to it on the roof, bing police car, he dipped his lights as did i and he carried on his way, it honestly wouldn't suprise me if they were illegal but I can't see why they would be, as your main beam isn't tested for pattern or wattage in mot test, only if it works, also for example l200 pickups etc have driving lights mounted on rear of cab, not i front of axel.
?????? It will be some PC A hole that's thought up a law like this. :laugh:

Jezz wrote: Please don't think i'm being rude, But could you point me to a link or official dvsa type ect website were this is in black and white.
Thank you Jez

No problem:

www.legislation.gov.uk

There are a number of different categories of lights but, leaving aside marker lights a forward facing light is considered a headlight. The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 states:

10. Electrical connections–
(a) Every main-beam headlamp shall be so constructed that the light emitted therefrom–
(i) can be deflected at the will of the driver to become a dipped beam, or
(ii) can be extinguished by the operation of a device which at the same time either–
.(A) causes the lamp to emit a dipped beam, or
( causes another lamp to emit a dipped beam.
.(b) Where a matched pair of main-beam headlamps is fitted they shall be capable of being switched on and off simultaneously and not otherwise.

regulations are an interpretation of the law, in this case the Road Traffic Act and Construction and Use Acts apply. Like most laws its a bit of a trawl to find the right info. I'm pretty sure that C&U still states that auxiliary lights must be fitted in pairs which would rule out most light bars.
Fortunately (or not) the laws have been relaxed a lot since I was a teenager.

Rhinoman wrote:

Jezz wrote: Please don't think i'm being rude, But could you point me to a link or official dvsa type ect website were this is in black and white.
Thank you Jez

No problem:

www.legislation.gov.uk

There are a number of different categories of lights but, leaving aside marker lights a forward facing light is considered a headlight. The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 states:

10. Electrical connections–
(a) Every main-beam headlamp shall be so constructed that the light emitted therefrom–
(i) can be deflected at the will of the driver to become a dipped beam, or
(ii) can be extinguished by the operation of a device which at the same time either–
.(A) causes the lamp to emit a dipped beam, or
( causes another lamp to emit a dipped beam.
.(b) Where a matched pair of main-beam headlamps is fitted they shall be capable of being switched on and off simultaneously and not otherwise.

regulations are an interpretation of the law, in this case the Road Traffic Act and Construction and Use Acts apply. Like most laws its a bit of a trawl to find the right info. I'm pretty sure that C&U still states that auxiliary lights must be fitted in pairs which would rule out most light bars.
Fortunately (or not) the laws have been relaxed a lot since I was a teenager.

You could argue that due to the length of a light bar it doesn't need to be mounted as a pair as long as it's symmetrically centrally mounted and goes on and off with the main beam.

My light bar has 2 rows of LEDs...... Does that count

9800shane wrote: New into the Jimny scene and I am currently adding all the extra's on to my new Jimny.

I do even amount of road and offroad driving so I am after a lighting solution and I could swing either way.

I have narrowed it down now to which is going to look better on my bullbar.

Let's post up some pics or your lighting setup??

I would be looking at a 20" light bar or LED driving lights.

JimnyBits Ligtbar on mine -



Throws daylight when needed -



Dave

Not a jimny but a few LEDs on my sons jku

Mine. Wired into the main beam. And after reading the above, I see no reason for it to be as stated illegal other than it made not be type approved.

C&U references the EU directives and 76/756/EEC states that headlights are mandatory 'number: two or four', it also states that they must be mounted forward of the front axle. It doesn't, however, specifically state that any additional lights are counted as main-beam headlights - either that is 'guidance' or comes from another directive, I'm sure there are a few more lurking about plus amendments.