# The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, Part I: Requirements relating to obligatory side retro reflectors and optional side retro reflectors to the extent specified in part ii

Extent: E+W+S

1 Number–
(a) A motor vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985:
On each side: two and as many more as are sufficient to satisfy the requirements of paragraph 2(a)
(b) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985:
On each side: Two
2 Position–
(a) Longitudinal–
(i) A motor vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985–
(A) Maximum distance from the front of the vehicle, including any drawbar, in respect of the foremost reflector on each side:
4 m
(B) Maximum distance from the rear of the vehicle in respect of the rearmost reflector on each side:
1 m
(C) Maximum separation distance between the reflecting areas of adjacent reflectors on the same side of the vehicle:
3 m or, if this is not practicable, 4 m
(ii) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985–
(A) Maximum distance from the rear of the vehicle in respect of the rearmost reflector on each side:
1 m
(B) The other reflector on each side of the vehicle:
Towards the centre of the vehicle
(b) Lateral:
No requirement
(c) Vertical–
(i) Maximum height above the ground:
1500 mm
(ii) Minimum height above the ground:
350 mm
3 Angles of visibility–
(a) A motor vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985–
(i) Horizontal:
45° to the left and to the right when viewed in a direction at right angles to the longutidinal axis of the vehicle
(ii) Vertical–
(A) Except in a case specified in sub-paragraph (B):
15° above and below the horizontal
(B) Where the highest part of the reflecting area is less than 750 mm above the ground:
15° above and 5° below the horizontal
(b) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985:
Plainly visible to the side
4 Alignment:
To the side
5 Markings:
An approval mark
6 Size of reflecting area:
No requirement
7 Colour–
(a) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (b):
Amber or if within 1 m of the rear of the vehicle it may be red
(b) A solo motor bicycle, a motor bicycle combination, a pedal cycle with or without a sidecar or an invalid carriage:
No requirement
8 Other requirements:
No side retro reflector shall be triangular

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/17/part/I (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/road-vehicles-lighting-regulations-1989/schedule-17/part-I
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.