| Information
| Method
of Inspection |
Reason
for rejection |
| This inspection
applies to: all vehicles except those used only during the hours of daylight,
and which are not fitted with any front or rear position lamps or have such lamps
permanently disconnected, painted over or masked If no front or rear position
lamps are fitted to a vehicle, there is no legal requirement to fit any other
lamp. | 1. check
that two side lamps and two rear lamps are fitted to the vehicle, one of each
on each side. | 1. An obligatory
lamp missing |
| Obligatory
front position lamps (side lamps) |
| lamps
required by regulations to be fitted to a vehicle to indicate its presence and
width when viewed from the front. They
must show a steady white light to the front, or a yellow light, if incorporated
in a headlamp which emits yellow light. The
light must be visible from a reasonable distance.
| 2. check
the presence, condition, security and operation of the switch. | 2. A missing,
insecure or faulty switch. |
| Obligatory
rear position lamps (rear lamps) |
| Lamps
required by regulations to be fitted to a vehicle to indicate its presence and
width when viewed from the rear. They
must show a steady red light to the rear, visible from a reasonable distance.
| 3. check
that side lamps and rear lamps show light of the correct colour. | 3.a. A
side lamp shows a light other than white to the front, (or yellow if incorporated
in a yellow headlamp) |
| | b. A rear
lamp shows a colour other than red to the rear. |
| Optional
lamps |
| Any additional
position lamps are optional and are not included in the inspection. | | |
| Combined
lamps |
| Stop
lamps or direction indicators may be combined in the same lamp housing as front
and rear position lamps (ref. reason for rejection 4d) (see section 1.3 and 1.5).
| 4. Check
that the lamps a.
are complete, in good working order and clean. | 4. A side
lamp or rear lamp a.
incomplete, not in good working order or not clean, ie damaged or deteriorated,
or not visible from a reasonable distance Note:
An effective proprietary repair {eg lens repair tape, etc) must be assessed on
its merits, considering security, colour, light output and durability.
|
| b. are
secure, not obscured, and face to the front or rear as appropriate. Note:
At least 50% of each lamp must be visible from the front or rear as appropriate.
| b. insecure,
obscured, or does not face the front or rear as appropriate |
| c. do not
flicker when tapped lightly by hand. | c. flickers
when tapped lightly by hand |
| d. are
not adversely affected by the operation of any other lamp. | d. adversely
affected by the operation of any other lamp, eg dual function lamps on foreign
vehicles |
| e.
are not obviously out of position. | e. obviously
incorrectly positioned |
| Multiple
number plate lamps |
| Where
more than one rear registration plate lamp, or bulb, is fitted as original equipment
, anyone in operative lamp or bulb is a reason for rejection. (see
information column: multiple number plate lights) | 5. With
the side and rear lamps switched on, check that the rear registration plate lamp(s)
is | 5. A rear
registration plate lamp |
| a.
fitted | a. not
fitted |
| b.
working, and | b. not
working, or |
| c. does
not flicker when tapped lightly by hand. | c. flickers
when tapped lightly by hand. |
| Note:
The precise position of obligatory side and rear lamps is not part of the inspection,
but check visually that the lamps are at about | i. the
same height, and | |
| the same
distance from the side of the vehicle | |
| 6.
Rear fog lamps |
| The
inspection of rear fog lamps is confined to the one rear fog lamp which is required
to be fitted to the centre or offside of vehicles first used on or after 1 April
1980. | With dipped
head lamps and the ignition switched on, operate the rear fog lamp switch and
check that a rear fog lamp | A mandatory
rear fog lamp |
| is fitted
to the centre or offside of the vehicle | a. is missing,
does not emit a steady red light or emits a light other than red |
| is working,
and | b. incomplete,
not in good working order or not visible from a reasonable distance |
| | c. is insecure,
obscured or not facing to the rear |
| does not
flicker when tapped lightly by hand. | d. flickers
when tapped lightly by hand |
| check also
that the driver's tell-tale works properly | e. tell-tale
does not work |
| | f. adversely
affected by the operation of any other lamp. |