UK Statutory Instrument
1989
United Kingdom
Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
3 compliance obligations
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 2
- Operator 1
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Operators also bound by 730 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air Operations) 2012 138 duties
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2066 of 19 December 2018 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 (Text with EEA relevance) 2018 121 duties
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 of 21 June 2012 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance) (repealed) 2012 112 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 75 duties
- Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (Text with EEA relevance) 2016 66 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I — PRELIMINARY
Browse 14 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Statement under section 43(3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988
Interpretation
Equivalent standards
Exemptions—General
Exemptions—Vehicle Examiners
Exemptions—Temporarily imported vehicles and vehicles proceeding to a port for export
Exemptions—Vehicles towing or being towed
Exemptions—Military vehicles
Exemptions—Invalid carriages
Exemptions—Vehicles drawn or propelled by hand
Exemptions—Tramcars
Modifications in relation to vehicles approved under the Motor Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 1996
Provision as respects Trade Descriptions Act 1968
Part II — REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE FITTING OF LAMPS, REFLECTORS, REAR MARKINGS AND DEVICES
Browse 14 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Colour of light shown by lamps and reflectors
Movement of lamps and reflectors
Lamps to show a steady light
Filament lamps
General requirements for electrical connections
Restrictions on fitting blue warning beacons, special warning lamps and similar devices
Obligatory warning beacons
Signs on buses carrying children
Obligatory lamps, reflectors, rear markings and devices
Restrictions on the obscuration of certain obligatory lamps and reflectors
Optional lamps, reflectors, rear markings and devices
Application of the ECE conspicuity requirements
Projecting trailers and vehicles carrying overhanging or projecting loads or equipment
Additional side marker lamps
Part III — REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE MAINTENANCE AND USE OF LAMPS, REFLECTORS, REAR MARKINGS AND DEVICES
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Maintenance of lamps, reflectors, rear markings and devices
Review
Requirements about the use of front and rear position lamps, rear registration plate lamps, side marker lamps and end-outline marker lamps
Requirements about the use of headlamps and front fog lamps
Requirements about the use of warning beacons
Restrictions on the use of lamps other than those to which regulation 24 refers
Part IV — TESTING AND INSPECTION OF LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND REFLECTORS
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Testing and inspection of lighting equipment and reflectors
Schedules
Other requirements— A rear marking of a type shown in...
- Ensure rear markings comply with pairing and other requirements Operator
Browse 40 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
A dim-dip device fitted to satisfy regulation 18 shall cause...
Running lamps fitted to satisfy regulation 18 shall be in...
— The electrical connections to the obligatory dim-dip device shall...
The electrical connections to the obligatory running lamps shall be...
In the case of a vehicle with three or more...
In the case of any other vehicle, any number may...
Electrical connections– (a) Every main-beam headlamp shall be so constructed...
Other requirements– (a) Every main-beam headlamp shall be so constructed...
Definitions– In this Schedule– “approval mark” means– a marking designated...
Other requirements– Every front fog lamp shall be so constructed...
Definitions– In this Schedule “appproval mark” means either– a marking...
Other requirements– (a) Except in the case of a motor...
Definitions– In this Schedule– “approval mark” means– in relation to...
Electrical connections– (a) Every stop lamp fitted to–
Other requirements– Where two stop lamps are required to be...
Definitions– In this Schedule “approval mark” means– in relation to...
Other requirements– The two lamps which emit white light towards...
Definitions– In this Schedule, “approval mark” means the aproval mark...
Definitions– In this Schedule “approval mark” means either– a marking...
Definitions– In this Schedule “approval mark” means– in relation to...
In this Schedule, references to a rear registration plate do...
Other requirements– The light shown by any one warning beacon...
Position– Every warning beacon shall be so mounted on the...
Angles of visibility– The light shown from at least one...
Definitions– (a) In this Schedule “approval mark” means either–
Any number may be fitted and the only requirements in...
But The colour of rear retro reflectors fitted to a...
The colour of rear retro reflectors fitted to—
Other requirements– (a) Except in the case of a motor...
Definitions– In this Schedule– “approval mark” means either– a marking...
A rear marking of a type shown in one of...
Any variation in a dimension (other than as to the...
Any variation in a dimension as to the height of...
Any variation in a dimension as to the angle of...
A rear marking of a type shown in diagrams 1...
The height of each half of the marking shown in...
Definitions— In this Schedule— (a) “approval mark” means a marking...
Definitions– In this Schedule “British Standard mark” means the specification...
Other requirements– (a) Where two front reflectors are required to...
Definitions– In this Schedule– “approval mark” means either– a marking...
Other sections — not classified into a Part
These sections sit outside the numbered Parts — usually provisions added or moved by later amendments.
In the case of a solo motor bicycle first used...
- Fit optional front lamps correctly on solo motor bicycles Any Person
In the case of a solo motor bicycle first used...
- Limit additional front lamps on solo motor bicycles Any Person
Browse 9 other sections
sch. 1
sch. 11
sch. 7 para. 1
sch. 9
In the case of any other vehicle any number of...
Electrical connections– (a) All indicators on one side of a...
Tell-tale– (a) One or more indicators on each side of...
Other requirements– (a) Except in the case of a vehicle...
Definitions– In this Schedule– “approval mark” means– in relation to...
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Prototype road vehicles: construction requirements (opens in a new tab) from DVSA Detailed Guidance
- 6. How to carry different types of load in HGVs and goods vehicles (opens in a new tab) from DVSA Detailed Guidance
- A-frames (opens in a new tab) from DVSA Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Vehicle Certification Agency
Type approval authority for new vehicles, components, and systems. Certifies that vehicles meet safety and environmental standards. Issues UK type approvals replacing …
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Browse legislation
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Regulators
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