light bar's

[bilge rat]

can anyone tell me the legality of using light bar lights on the road, i thought it was a no no .but artical in one of the mags sort of reads that light legistlation only aplies to fog lights,?. spots aslong as there switched by the main beam ciurcut doesnt matter how many or where there positioned ?. any one got veiws on this . thanks .alan......

[landroverkeith]

Everythings illegal these days !

[pux]

Everythings illegal these days !

stop typing its illegal :roll:  did you not know that :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

I can't find anything in my handy, but slightly geeky, traffic law book that covers spot/driving lamps in relation to fitting, usage etc.
As far as I'm aware, they can only come on when high beam is switched on and musn't be used to cause danger to other road users.

[ben_haynes]

MOT Regs say aslong as they are swithched on the Main Beam circuit or Independently then it is Legal and can be positioned any where on the vehicle

for Fog Lights they must be Mounted Below any form of Driving Lights (inc. Side lights, dip and main Beam) or along side if an all in one Unit

[Disco Matt]

I asked the same question before fitting mine, basically it seems that you're allowed up to six headlights, and any driving lights/spotlights must be switched so they only come on with main beam.

Mine are wired as such and also have an isolating switch, so I can have normal main beam without the spots if I want. After the first few tests I don't see myself wanting this!

[bilge rat]

MOT Regs say aslong as they are swithched on the Main Beam circuit or Independently then it is Legal and can be positioned any where on the vehicle

this is how it read to me, so guess i can use them a little more , alan.....

[Suvvey]

I asked the same question before fitting mine, basically it seems that you're allowed up to six headlights, and any driving lights/spotlights must be switched so they only come on with main beam.

Mine are wired as such and also have an isolating switch, so I can have normal main beam without the spots if I want. After the first few tests I don't see myself wanting this!

Is this correct as I have the two OME headlights (Duh! obviously!) two driving lamps mounted between them and have just ordered 4 more to go on the roofrack. Does this mean I will have two too many?

[Bishops Finger]

Ay so these are legal then...

[Bishops Finger]

Ay so these are legal then...

Goddam updates...

[Disco Matt]

I asked the same question before fitting mine, basically it seems that you're allowed up to six headlights, and any driving lights/spotlights must be switched so they only come on with main beam.

Mine are wired as such and also have an isolating switch, so I can have normal main beam without the spots if I want. After the first few tests I don't see myself wanting this!

Is this correct as I have the two OME headlights (Duh! obviously!) two driving lamps mounted between them and have just ordered 4 more to go on the roofrack. Does this mean I will have two too many?

Err, I haven't actually seen it written down on an official document, but this is what I was told by another Mud Club member when I asked a while ago.

[ben_haynes]

I asked the same question before fitting mine, basically it seems that you're allowed up to six headlights, and any driving lights/spotlights must be switched so they only come on with main beam.

Mine are wired as such and also have an isolating switch, so I can have normal main beam without the spots if I want. After the first few tests I don't see myself wanting this!

Is this correct as I have the two OME headlights (Duh! obviously!) two driving lamps mounted between them and have just ordered 4 more to go on the roofrack. Does this mean I will have two too many?

you dont have to have OME Headlights they can be aftermarket or from a completely different make and model

but i have never seen any problem with four lights on roof and six between head lights, but not been through MOT yet

but our works truck has them all over the roof and above and below the bumper got about 12 spots on it all come on with Main Beam

[DEANO3528]

I know that some countries fix limits on the number of units fitted, but don't believe the UK to be one of those.
Roof lights don't come into the MOT test, there is no test point for them.
However as usual, a bored 'hero in blue' might decide to take you to task just to see if they can wind you up enough to get you for something else.
Ahen, alledgedly...

[Disco Matt]

Thing is, so long as you can isolate them so they don't always come on with main beam then you shouldn't have a problem at MOT time - just say they're only used off road if asked. As far as I know the regs say nothing about lights that aren't switched on, just so long as your original headlight switch operates as it should. I just put a small rocker switch in the feed from the main beam to the relay, with that off the lights are back to normal.

[lee celtic]

I have my roof lights fitted with a three way switch on the dash using a bank of fuses and relays in a butty box under the bonet :D

position 1. relay takes power from switched live .Lights can work independantly
position 2. relay has no power just head lights on
position 3. relay takes power from high beam wire all guns blazing see for miles 8)

This setup has passed two MOT tests :D

[Suvvey]

The other problem with the new lights is that the 'halo' sidelight ring is very blue. Didn't realise it was quite so blue when I ordered it. I was going to wire them in the same way as the front driving lamps so that the halo comes on with the sidelights and just the main beam is switchable, but after confusing info on the whole blue light thing I've decided that this will also have to be switchable.
Some people have told me blue lights are a strict no-no but others have said they are fine as long as they do not flash :?  either way I think it is a little too boy racer like for me so will be fitting another switch.

[Terranosaurus]

Could you not change the bulbs for white/clear ones, or is the blue halo ring done another way?

[ian_s]

just remember not to dazzle anyone with them! then theres no reason for the boys in blue to get involved

[DEANO3528]

My tame tester assures me that 'blue' headlight bulbs should be an MOT fail.

[V8MoneyPit]

According to Wipac, the regulations for driving (not fog) lamps are as follows:

"Driving lamps can only be used with main beam headlights and must be extinguished when headlights are on dipped beam. Driving lamps should be fitted at a maximum of 1200mm from the ground to the upper edge of the lens and a minimum of 500mm from the ground to the lower edge of the lens. Pairs of lamps must be at least 600mm apart measuring from the inner edges of their lenses and not more than 400mm from the edge of the vehicle to the outer edge of the lens."

The 1200mm maximum height blows out any use of roof lights on the road. Although the minimum of 500mm seems to contradict vehicle manufacturers fitting lamps in the front spoiler.... or are these fog lights?

I am assuming this is an extract from the construction and use regulations.

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

However as usual, a bored 'hero in blue' might decide to take you to task just to see if they can wind you up enough to get you for something else.
Ahen, alledgedly...

Unlikely, as we are usually eating doughnuts or playing car snooker.
Seriously though, to the best of my knowledge the only regs in relation to auxilary lights is that that musn't be fitted or used in such a way to cause dazzle or annoyance to other road users.
The usual Ereg marks will probably apply to the bulbs and lenses, but in all honesty you would have to be seriously unlucky to find a copper who would want to go that far. I mean, I'd rather be catching proper criminals like burglars, speeding Chief Constables and Labour politicians, particularly those that work in the Home Office.
Not that I'm biased, of course.

[Terranosaurus]

According to Wipac, the regulations for driving (not fog) lamps are as follows:

"Driving lamps can only be used with main beam headlights and must be extinguished when headlights are on dipped beam. Driving lamps should be fitted at a maximum of 1200mm from the ground to the upper edge of the lens and a minimum of 500mm from the ground to the lower edge of the lens. Pairs of lamps must be at least 600mm apart measuring from the inner edges of their lenses and not more than 400mm from the edge of the vehicle to the outer edge of the lens."

The 1200mm maximum height blows out any use of roof lights on the road. Although the minimum of 500mm seems to contradict vehicle manufacturers fitting lamps in the front spoiler.... or are these fog lights?

I am assuming this is an extract from the construction and use regulations.

Those look like the old rules, latest stuff is HERE

Its quite a read but its all there.

[Low Ranger]

Nissan fit spots to the end of the roof rails on the X trail. So iguess it must be ok to have them on the roof.  :?