Talk:Automotive lighting

Vehicle Lighting: UK Practice

The main article suggests that reversing lights are compulsory. In the UK, the installation of reversing lights is optional, although of course, any prospective purchaser would be critical of a manufacturer who did not provide them. One or two lights are permitted, each having a maximum of 21 watts, and controlled either automatically with the selection of reverse gear or by a dedicated switch with a warning light. There are limits to the mounting height of such lamps, not to be confused with work lights which may be mounted higher on the rear of certain vehicles and which are not permitted for use when the vehicle is travelling on a public highway. Reversing lamps are not currently included within the statutory annual vehicle test. Douglasson (talk) 16:46, 24 October 2012 (UTC)

No, reversing lamps _are_ compulsory in the UK. The old British Standard for fitment of vehicle lights was long ago supplanted by UN Regulation 48, which requires each vehicle to be equipped with one or two reversing lamps. It is true that the MoT protocol does not include an inspection of the reversing lamp(s), but that does not mean they are not required -- merely that they are not tested. —Scheinwerfermann ^T·_C18:23, 24 October 2012 (UTC)

I was basing my contribution on the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 (SCHEDULE 14 - requirements relating to optional reversing lamps) which states that there is no requirement for reversing lamps but does give some restrictions on those which are fitted. These Regulations were amended in 2005, but none of the amendments refers to the quoted section. I note that the UN Regulation quoted came into force on 1st January 1982 and the UK became a contracting party on 21 Feb 1985. Since the 1989 Regulations came into force on 1st November 1989, the latter will take precedence in any proceedings. Nevertheless, I think that we will both take a dim view of any manufacturer who not fit them.

One change that I should make to my comment concerns the power rating of the lamps - the maximum permitted being 24 watts per lamp with a maximum of two such lamps. The confusion arose because 21 watt bulbs are much more common on 12 volts systems. Douglasson (talk) 19:19, 11 November 2012 (UTC)

"No, reversing lamps _are_ compulsory in the UK." Yes & no. First, U.N. Regulations are of no legal consequence in the United Kingdom unless the U.K. government specifically implements them by way of U.K. legislation. There are many instances in the automotive world of certain things which, by U.K. law incorporating U.N. rules, are required to be fitted to new cars when first sold in the country. After that, however, it is the various Road Vehicle Regulations of the U.K. which govern the required equipment. As has already been pointed out, the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 (as amended) are what govern reversing lights, and while they specify conditions for cars which do have them, they do not require them. So a brand new car sold in the U.K. may be required to be fitted with reversing lights, but after that it's perfectly legal for the owner to disconnect/disable them if he should so choose (I can't think why, but that's not the point!).

Also worth noting is that the inclusion or exclusion of certain things in the U.K. M.o.T. inspection is not necessarily as indication of legal requirement. I no longer live in the U.K. so have not kept up with recent changes, but certainly as of a few years ago it was possible to pass the inspection with a non-functioning speedometer, even though that is a legal requirement. Similarly, the M.o.T. inspection can result in a failure for certain items despite those things not being legally required for use on a public road (many such cases being due to the E.U. dictatorship requiring certain things to be included in vehicle inspections). 47.32.160.40 (talk) 22:49, 14 September 2019 (UTC)

Rear indicator/turn-signal colour and DOT spec in Iceland

Currently in Iceland all dealerships must sell European spec cars, as in following the ECE headlight pattern and having amber rear indicators(turn signals). But on the other hand, any individual may import North American spec cars that follow the DOT headlight pattern and have red rear indicators(turn signals) and use them in Iceland without modification. Also, you can modify any existing ECE spec car and for example replace the white park lights on the front with amber lights. Presumably I imagine Iceland is the only country in Europe that allows cars to follow either ECE or DOT spec interchangably.

I'm not very familiar with the way Wikipedia works so I'm just wondering how would be the best way to add this to the article? Nammi-namm (talk) 15:46, 19 May 2013 (UTC)

Back in the days when there were a lot more USAF personnel in the UK than there are now it was quite common to see imported Yank Tanks in East Anglia with red rear blinkenlights, which we natives found rather confusing. Mr Larrington (talk) 15:20, 30 December 2021 (UTC)

ECE

In Automotive_lighting#Headlamps it refers to ECE regulations. What is ECE? -- SGBailey (talk) 10:25, 18 September 2018 (UTC)

It seems likely that this is a reference to World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations. -- SGBailey (talk) 14:47, 18 September 2018 (UTC)

Interior lighting faders.

I like the way interior lights now can soft fade up & down and I came here hoping to learn how it is achieved. On 12V DC can this only be done by resistively 'soft' switching incandescent bulbs or do some cars have LED lights faded up & down with more sophisticated tech? I've searched other pages on lighting but haven't found the explanations I'm looking for. Ta 86.150.252.241 (talk) 18:08, 29 August 2019 (UTC)

Rear indicator light colours

What would be really useful is a table, listing by country, whether red rear indicators are legal or not (and whether there are any exceptions based on vehicle age, or whether the vehicle is just visiting the country). For example, red rear indicators are allowed in Ukraine, but not Poland, even if just visiting. How about Slovakia and Romania? FreeFlow99 (talk) 17:10, 15 September 2023 (UTC)