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Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 2021
Div 8Clearance lights
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Division 8—Clearance lights
87 Front clearance lights
(1) Front clearance lights may only be fitted to a vehicle that is at least 1·8 metres wide.
(2) A pair of front clearance lights must be fitted to the following—
(a) a motor vehicle that is at least 2·2 metres wide;
(b) a prime mover.
(3) The centre of a front clearance light must be not more than 400 millimetres from the nearer side of the vehicle and if the vehicle was built after June 1953—
(a) at least 750 millimetres higher than the centre of any low-beam headlight fitted to the vehicle; or
(b) not lower than the top of the windscreen.
(4) A front clearance light may be mounted on an external rear vision mirror or a mirror support if, when the mirror is correctly adjusted, no part of the lens of the clearance light is visible to a person in the normal driving position.
(5) When on, a front clearance light must—
(a) show a yellow or white light visible 200 metres from the front of the vehicle; and
88 External cabin lights
(1) A motor vehicle fitted with front clearance lights may also have additional forward-facing lights on or above the roof of its cabin.
(2) The additional forward-facing lights must be spaced evenly between the front clearance lights, with their centres at least 120 millimetres apart.
(3) When on, an additional forward-facing light must—
(a) show a yellow or white light; and
89 Rear clearance lights
(1) Rear clearance lights may only be fitted to a vehicle that is at least 1·8 metres wide.
(2) A pair of rear clearance lights must be fitted to the rear of a vehicle that is at least 2·2 metres wide.
(3) The centre of a rear clearance light must be—
(a) not over 400 millimetres from the nearer side of the vehicle; and
(b) if practicable, at least 600 millimetres above ground level.
(4) When on, a rear clearance light must—
(a) show a red light visible 200 metres from the rear of the vehicle; and
Division 9—Side marker lights
90 Vehicles needing side marker lights
(1) A pair of side marker lights must be fitted towards the rear of the sides of a motor vehicle that is over 7·5 metres long and at least 2·2 metres wide.
(2) A pole-type trailer, and a motor vehicle built to tow a pole-type trailer, with at least one cross-bar or bolster must have a side marker light fitted to each side of the back or only cross-bar or bolster.
(3) A pole-type trailer with 2 or more cross-bars or bolsters may also have a side marker light fitted to each side of the front cross-bar or bolster.
(4) At least 2 side marker lights must be fitted to each side of the following—
(a) a trailer, other than a pole-type trailer, that is at least 2·2 metres wide and not over 7·5 metres long;
(b) a semi-trailer that is not over 7·5 metres long.
(5) At least 3 side marker lights must be fitted to each side of the following—
(a) a trailer, other than a pole-type trailer, that is at least 2·2 metres wide and over 7·5 metres long;
(b) a semi-trailer that is over 7·5 metres long.
91 Location of side marker lights
(1) The centre of a side marker light must not be more than 150 millimetres from the nearer side of the vehicle.
(2) A front side marker light fitted to a motor vehicle must be towards the front of the side of the vehicle with no part of the lens visible to the driver.
(3) The centre of a front side marker light fitted to a trailer must be—
(a) within 300 millimetres of the front of the side of the trailer; or
(b) if the construction of the trailer makes it impracticable to comply with paragraph (a), as near as practicable to the front of the trailer.
(4) The centre of a rear side marker light fitted to a vehicle must be—
(a) within 300 millimetres of the rear of the side of the vehicle; or
(b) if the construction of the vehicle makes it impracticable to comply with paragraph (a), as near as practicable to the rear of the vehicle.
(5) Side marker lights fitted to a vehicle must, as far as practicable, be evenly spaced along the side of the vehicle.
(6) Subclauses (2) to (5) do not apply to side marker lights fitted to a cross-bar or bolster of a pole-type trailer.
(7) Only the side marker lights nearest to the rear need be fitted if complying with subclauses (3) and (4) would result in the front and rear side marker lights being under 2·5 metres apart.
(8) A side marker light fitted to a vehicle must be fitted so—
(a) its centre is not over—
(i) 1·5 metres above ground level; or
(ii) if it is not practicable to fit it lower, 2·1 metres above ground level; and
(b) its centre is at least 600 millimetres above ground level; and
(c) it is, as far as practicable, in a row of side marker lights along the side of the vehicle.
(9) Subclause (8)(a) does not apply to a side marker light that is not required to be fitted to the vehicle by clause 90.
92 Performance of side marker lights
(1) When on, a side marker light fitted to a vehicle must—
(a) show a light visible 200 metres from the vehicle; and
(2) When on, a side marker light fitted to a vehicle must show—
(a) to the front of the vehicle, a yellow light; and
(b) to the rear of the vehicle—
(i) if the light also operates as a rear light or reflector, a red light; and
(ii) in any other case, a red or yellow light.
(3) If a pole-type trailer with 2 or more cross-bars or bolsters has the side marker lights permitted by clause 90(3)—
(a) the side marker lights fitted to the front cross-bar or bolster may comply with subclause (2)(a) only; and
(b) the side marker lights fitted to the back cross-bar or bolster may comply with subclause (2)(b) only.
93 Side marker lights and rear clearance lights
The side marker light nearest to the rear of a vehicle may also be a rear clearance light for clause 89.
Division 10—Brake lights
94 Fitting brake lights
(1) A brake light must be fitted to the rear of a vehicle built after 1934.
(2) A pair of brake lights must be fitted to the rear of—
(a) a motor vehicle built after 1959 that has 4 or more wheels; and
(b) a motor trike built after 1959 that has 2 rear wheels; and
(c) a trailer built after June 1973.
(3) The centre of a brake light must be—
(a) at least 350 millimetres above ground level; and
(b) not more than—
(i) 1·5 metres above ground level; or
(ii) if it is not practicable to fit the light lower—2·1 metres above ground level.
(4) A vehicle may be fitted with one or more additional brake lights.
(5) The centre of an additional brake light must be at least 350 millimetres above ground level.
(6) If only one brake light is fitted to a vehicle, it must be fitted in the centre or to the right of the centre of the vehicle's rear.
(7) Subclause (6) applies to a motor cycle with an attached sidecar as if the sidecar were not attached.
(8) For the purposes of this clause, if a light is fitted to a vehicle that is built before 1 January 1973 and the light functions as a brake light and a direction indicator, that light is taken to be a brake light.
Illustration of location of brake lights on a vehicle.
95 Performance and operation of brake lights
(1) When on, a brake light must show a red light visible 30 metres from the rear of the vehicle.
(2) A brake light fitted to a street rod vehicle may incorporate a blue lens not over 20 millimetres in diameter.
(3) A brake light fitted to a motor vehicle must come on, if it is not already on, when—
(a) for a vehicle with 4 or more wheels or built after 1974, a service brake is applied; or
(b) for another vehicle, the rear wheel brake is applied.
(4) Subclause (3) does not apply if the controls in the vehicle that start the engine are in a position that makes it impossible for the engine to operate.
(5) A brake light on a trailer must come on when—
(a) the brake light of the towing vehicle comes on; or
(b) a brake control on the towing vehicle, which independently activates the service brake on the trailer, is operated.
(6) A brake light may be operated by an engine brake, retarder, or similar device if the device does not interfere with the proper operation of the brake light.