# The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, Part I: Requirements relating to obligatory rear position lamps and to optional rear position lamps to the extent specified in part ii

Extent: E+W+S

1 Number–
(a) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (b), (c), (d), (e), (f ), (g) or (h):
Two
(b) A bus first used before 1st April 1955:
One
(c) A solo motor bicycle:
One
(d) A pedal cycle with less than four wheels and without a sidecar:
One
(e) A trailer drawn by a pedal cycle and a trailer, the overall width of which does not exceed 800 mm, drawn by a solo motor bicycle or by a motor bicycle combination:
One
(f) An invalid carriage having a maximum speed not exceeding 4 mph:
One
(g) A vehicle drawn or propelled by hand:
One
(h) A motor vehicle having three or more wheels and a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph and a trailer drawn by any such vehicle if, in either case, the structure of the vehicle makes it impracticable to meet all of the relevant requirements of paragraphs 2 and 3 below with two lamps:
Four
2 Position–
(a) Longitudinal:
At or near the rear
(b) Lateral–
(i) Where two lamps are required to be fitted–
(A) Maximum distance from the side of the vehicle–
(1) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (2):
400 mm
(2) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and any other vehicle manufactured before 1st October 1985:
800 mm
(B) Minimum separation distance between a pair of rear position lamps–
(1) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (2):
500 mm. If the overall width of the vehicle is less than 1400 mm, 400 mm or if less than 800 mm, 300 mm
(2) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and any other vehicle manufactured before 1st October 1985:
No requirement
(ii) Where one lamp is required to be fitted:
On the centre-line or off side of the vehicle
(iii) Where four lamps are required to be fitted–
(A) Maximum distance from the side of the vehicle–
(1) One pair of lamps:
Such that they satisfy the relevant requirements in sub-paragraph 2(b)(i)(A)
(2) The other pair of lamps:
No requirement
(B) Minimum separation distance between rear position lamps–
(1) One pair of lamps:
Such that they satisfy the relevant requirements in sub-paragraph 2(b)(i)(B)
(2) The other pair of lamps:
No requirement
(c) Vertical–
(i) Maximum height above the ground where one or two rear position lamps are required to be fitted–
(A) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (B) or (C):
1500 mm or, if the structure of the vehicle makes this impracticable, 2100 mm
(B) A bus first used before 1st April 1986:
No requirement
(C) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 not being a bus, a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985, an agricultural vehicle, a horse-drawn vehicle, an industrial tractor and engineering plant:
2100 mm
(ii) Maximum height above the ground where four rear position lamps are required to be fitted–
(A) One pair of lamps:
Such that they satisfy the relevant requirements in paragraph 2(c)(i)
(B) The other pair of lamps:
No requirement
(iii) Minimum height above the ground–
(A) A vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (B):
350 mm
(B) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and any other vehicle manufactured before 1st October 1985
No requirement
3 Angles of visibility–
(a) A motor vehicle, other than a motor bicycle combination, first used on or after 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985–
(i) Horizontal–
(A) Where two lamp are required to be fitted:
45° inwards and 80° outwards
(B) Where one lamp is required to be fitted:
80° to the left and to the right
(C) Where four lamps are required to be fitted–
(1) The outer pair of lamps:
0° inwards and 80° outwards
(2) The inner pair of lamps:
45° inwards and 80° outwards
(ii) Vertical–
(A) Where one or two rear position lamps are required to be fitted–
(1) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (2) or (3):
15° above and below the horizontal
(2) Where the highest part of the illuminated area of the lamp is less than 1500 mm above the ground:
15° above and 10° below the horizontal
(3) Where the highest part of the illuminated area of the lamp is less than 750 mm above the ground:
15° above and 5° below the horizontal
(B) Where four rear position lamps are required to be fitted–
(1) One pair of lamps:
Such that they satisfy the relevant requirements in paragraph 3(a)(ii)(A)
(2) The other pair of lamps:
Visible to the rear
(b) A motor vehicle, other than a motor bicycle combination, first used before 1st April 1986 and any other vehicle manufactured before 1st October 1985:
Visible to the rear
(c) A vehicle drawn or propelled by hand, a pedal cycle, a horse-drawn vehicle and a motor bicycle combination:
Visible to the rear
4 Alignment:
To the rear
5 Markings (see also regulation 3(6))–
(a) A motor vehicle or a trailer not covered by sub-paragraph (b), (c), (d) or (e):
An approval mark
(b) A motor vehicle first used before 1st January 1974 and a trailer, other than a trailer drawn by a pedal cycle, manufactured before that date:
No requirement
(c) A solo motor bicycle and a motor bicycle combination, in each case first used before 1st April 1986, and a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985 and drawn by a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination:
No requirement
(d) A pedal cycle, a trailer drawn by a pedal cycle, an invalid carriage having a maximum speed not exceeding 4 mph, a horse-drawn vehicle and a vehicle drawn or propelled by hand in each case manufactured before 1st October 1995:
An approval mark or a British Standard mark
(e) A pedal cycle, a trailer drawn by a pedal cycle, an invalid carriage having a maximum speed not exceeding 4 mph, a horse-drawn vehicle and a vehicle drawn or propelled by hand in each case manufactured on or after 1st October 1995.
An approval mark or the British Standard mark which is specified in sub-paragraph (c), (d) or (e) of the definition of “British Standard mark”.
6 Size of illuminated area:
No requirement
7 Colour:
Red
8 Wattage:
No requirement
9 Intensity–
(a) A rear position lamp bearing any of the markings mentioned in paragraph 4:
No requirement
(b) Any other rear position lamp:
Visible from a reasonable distance
10 Electrical connections:
No individual requirement
11 Tell-tale:
No requirement

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/10/part/I (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/road-vehicles-lighting-regulations-1989/schedule-10/part-I
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.