{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/road-vehicles-lighting-regulations-1989/schedule-18/part-I",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/road-vehicles-lighting-regulations-1989/schedule-18/part-I.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1989/1796",
  "legislation_title": "The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/road-vehicles-lighting-regulations-1989",
  "path": "schedule/18/part/I",
  "kind": "part",
  "number": "I",
  "heading": "Requirements relating to obligatory rear retro reflectors and optional rear retro reflectors to the extent specified in part ii",
  "text": "1 Number–\n(a) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (b) or (c):\nTwo\n(b) A solo motor bicycle, a pedal cycle with less than four wheels and with or without a sidecar, a trailer drawn by a pedal cycle, a trailer the overall width of which does not exceed 800 mm drawn by a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination, an invalid carriage having a maximum speed not exceeding 4 mph and a vehicle drawn or propelled by hand:\nOne\n(c) 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 requirements of paragraphs 2 and 3 below with two reflectors:\nFour\n2 Position–\n(a) Longitudinal:\nAt or near the rear\n(b) Lateral–\n(i) Where two rear reflectors are required to be fitted–\n(A) Maximum distance from the side of the vehicle–\n(1) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (2), (3) or (4):\n400 mm\n(2) A bus first used before 1st October 1954 and a horse-drawn vehicle manufactured before 1st October 1985:\nNo requirement\n(3) A vehicle constructed or adapted for the carriage of round timber:\n765 mm\n(4) Any other motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and any other vehicle manufactured before 1st October 1985:\n610 mm\n(B) Minimum separation distance between a pair of rear reflectors–\n(1) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (2):\n600 mm. If the overall width of the vehicle is less than 1300 mm, 400 mm or if less than 800 mm, 300 mm\n(2) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and any other vehicle manufactured before 1st October 1985:\nNo requirement\n(ii) Where one rear reflector is required to be fitted:\nOn the centre-line or off side of the vehicle\n(iii) Where four rear reflectors are required to be fitted–\n(A) Maximum distance from the side of the vehicle–\n(1) One pair of reflectors:\nSuch that they satisfy the relevant requirements in sub-paragraph 2(b)(i)(A)\n(2) The other pair of reflectors:\nNo requirement\n(B) Minimum separation distance between rear reflectors–\n(1) One pair of reflectors:\nSuch that they satisfy the relevant requirements in sub-paragraph 2(b)(i)(B)\n(2) The other pair of reflectors:\nNo requirement\n(c) Vertical–\n(i) Maximum height above the ground where one or two rear reflectors are required to be fitted–\n(A) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (B):\n900 mm or, if the structure of the vehicle makes this impracticable, 1500 mm\n(B) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and any other vehicle manufactured before 1st October 1985:\n1525 mm\n(ii) Maximum height above the ground where four rear reflectors are required to be fitted–\n(A) One pair of reflectors:\nSuch that they satisfy the relevant requirements in paragraph 2(c)(i)\n(B) The other pair of reflectors:\n2100 mm\n(iii) Minimum height above the ground–\n(A) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (B):\n250 mm\n(B) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and any other vehicle manufactured before 1st October 1985:\nNo requirement\n3 Angles of visibility–\n(a) A motor vehicle (not being a motor bicycle combination) first used on or after 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985–\n(i) Where one or two rear reflectors are required to be fitted–\n(A) Horizontal–\n(1) Where two rear reflectors are required to be fitted:\n30° inwards and outwards\n(2) Where one rear reflector is required to be fitted:\n30° to the left and to the right\n(B) Vertical–\n(1) Except in a case specified in sub-paragraph (2):\n10° above and below the horizontal\n(2) Where the highest part of the reflecting area is less than 750 mm above the ground:\n10° above and 5° below the horizontal\n(ii) Where four rear reflectors are required to be fitted–\n(A) One pair of reflectors:\nSuch that they satisfy the relevant requirements in paragraph 3(a)(i)\n(B) The other pair of reflectors:\nPlainly visible to the rear\n(b) A motor vehicle (not being a motor bicycle combination) first used before 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985:\nPlainly visible to the rear\n(c) A motor bicycle combination, a pedal cycle, a sidecar attached to a pedal cycle, a horse-drawn vehicle and a vehicle drawn or propelled by hand:\nPlainly visible to the rear\n4 Alignment:\nTo the rear\n5 Markings–\n(a) A motor vehicle first used–\n(i) On or after 1st April 1991:\nAn approval mark incorporating “I” or “IA”\n(ii) On or after 1st July 1970 and before 1st April 1991:\n(A) An approval mark incorporating “I” or “IA”, or\n(B) A British Standard mark which is specified in sub-paragraph (i) of the definition of “British Standard mark” below followed by “LI” or “LIA”; or\n(C) In the case of a vehicle manufactured in Italy, an Italian approved marking\n(iii) Before 1st July 1970:\nNo requirement\n(b) A trailer (other than a broken-down motor vehicle) manufactured–\n(i) On or after 1st October 1989:\nAn approval mark incorporating “III” or “IIIA”\n(ii) On or after 1st July 1970 and before 1st October 1989:\n(A) An approval mark incorporating “III” or “IIIA”; or\n(B) A British Standard mark which is specified in sub-paragraph (i) of the definition of “British Standard mark” below followed by “LIII” or “LIIIA”, or\n(C) In the case of a trailer manufactured in Italy, an Italian approved marking\n(iii) Before 1st July 1970:\nNo requirement\n(c) 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–\n(i) On or after 1st October 1989:\n(A) An approval mark incorporating “I” or “IA”; or\n(B) A British Standard mark which is specified in sub-paragraph (ii) of the definition of “British Standard mark” below\n(ii) On or after 1st July 1970 and before 1st October 1989:\n(A) Any of the markings mentioned in sub-paragraph (c)(i) above; or\n(B) A British Standard mark which is specified in sub-paragraph (i) of the definition of “British Standard mark” below followed by “LI” or “LIA”\n(iii) Before 1st July 1970:\nNo requirement\n6 Size of reflecting area:\nNo requirement\n7 Colour:\nRed",
  "extent": "E+W+S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 18 Pt. 1 para. 2(c)(i)(A) substituted (4.1.2010) by The Road Vehicles Lighting and Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/3220), regs. 1, 14(2)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 18 Pt. 1 para. 2(c)(iii)(A) substituted (4.1.2010) by The Road Vehicles Lighting and Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/3220), regs. 1, 14(2)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Word in Sch. 18 Pt. 1 paras. 3(a)(i)(B)(1), (2), substituted (4.1.2010) by The Road Vehicles Lighting and Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/3220), regs. 1, 14(2)(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Sch. 18 Pt. 1 para. 1 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I2",
      "text": "Sch. 18 Pt. 1 para. 2 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I3",
      "text": "Sch. 18 Pt. 1 para. 3 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I4",
      "text": "Sch. 18 Pt. 1 para. 4 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I5",
      "text": "Sch. 18 Pt. 1 para. 5 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I6",
      "text": "Sch. 18 Pt. 1 para. 6 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I7",
      "text": "Sch. 18 Pt. 1 para. 7 in force at 1.11.1989, see reg. 1(1)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/18/part/I",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T15:36:39.481273+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}