# The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, Part I: Requirements relating to obligatory front position lamps and to optional front 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) or (f):
Two
(b) A pedal cycle with less than four wheels and without a sidecar:
One
(c) A solo motor bicycle:
One
(d) A motor bicycle combination with a headlamp on the motor bicycle:
One, on the sidecar
(e) An invalid carriage:
One
(f) A vehicle drawn or propelled by hand:
One
2 Position–
(a) Longitudinal:
No requirement
(b) Lateral–
(i) Where two front position lamps are required to be fitted–
(A) Maximum distance from the side of the vehicle–
(1) A motor vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1986:
400 mm
(2) A trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985:
150 mm
(3) Any other vehicle manufactured on or after 1st October 1985:
400 mm
(4) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and any other vehicle manufactured before 1st October 1985:
510 mm
(B) Minimum separation distance between front position lamps:
No requirement
(ii) Where one front position lamp is required to be fitted–
(A) A sidecar forming part of a motor bicycle combination:
On the centre-line of the sidecar or on the side of the sidecar furthest from the motor bicycle
(B) Any other vehicle:
On the centre-line or off-side of the vehicle
(c) Vertical–
(i) Maximum height above the ground–
(A) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (B), (C) or (D):
1500 mm or, if the structure of the vehicle makes this impracticable, 2100 mm
(B) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985:
2300 mm
(C) A motor vehicle, first used on or after 1st April 1986, having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph:
2100 mm
(D) A bus and a road clearance vehicle:
No requirement
(ii) Minimum height above the ground
No requirement
3 Angles of visibility–
(a) A motor vehicle (not being a motor bicycle combination or an agricultural vehicle) first used on or after 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985–
(i) Horizontal–
(A) Where one lamp is required to be fitted:
80° to the left and to the right
(B) Where two lamps are required to be fitted:
80° outwards and 45° inwards (5° inwards in the case of a trailer)
(ii) Vertical–
(A) Any case not covered by sub-paragraph (B):
15° above and below the horizontal
(B) 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) Any other vehicle:
Visible to the front
4 Alignment:
To the front
5 Markings (see also regulation 3(6))–
(a) A motor vehicle (other than a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination) first used on or after 1st January 1972 and a trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985:
An approval mark
(b) A solo motor bicycle and a motor bicycle combination in either case first used on or after 1st April 1986:
An approval mark
(c) Any other vehicle manufactured or first used on or after 1st October 1990 and before the 1st October 1995:
An approval mark or a British Standard mark
(ca) Any other vehicle manufactured on or after the 1st October 1995:
An approval mark or the British Standard mark which is specified in sub-paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of the definition of “British Standard mark” below.
(d) Any other vehicle:
No requirement
6 Size of illuminated area:
No requirement
7 Colour:
White or, if incorporated in a headlamp which is capable of emitting only a yellow light, yellow
8 Wattage:
No requirement
9 Intensity–
(a) A front position lamp bearing any of the markings mentioned in paragraph 5:
No requirement
(b) Any other front 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/2/part/I (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/road-vehicles-lighting-regulations-1989/schedule-2/part-I
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.