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

Extent: E+W+S

1 Number (on each side of a vehicle)–
(a) A motor vehicle with three or more wheels, not being a motor bicycle combination, first used on or after 1st April 1986:
One front indicator (Category 1, 1a or 1b), one rear indicator (Category 2, 2a or 2b) and one side repeater indicator (Category 5 or 6) or, in the case of a motor vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph, one front indicator (Category 1, 1a or 1b) and one rear indicator (Category 2, 2a or 2b).
(b) A trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985 drawn by a motor vehicle:
One rear indicator (Category 2, 2a or 2b) or, in the case of a trailer towed by a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination, one rear indicator (Category 12).
(c) A solo motor bicycle and a motor bicycle combination, in each case first used on or after 1st April 1986:
One front indicator (Category 1, 1a, 1b or 11) and one rear indicator (Category 2, 2a, 2b or 12).
(d) A motor vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1936 and before 1st April 1986, a trailer manufactured on or after 1st April 1936 and before 1st October 1985, a pedal cycle with or without a sidecar or a trailer, a horse-drawn vehicle and a vehicle drawn or propelled by hand:
Any arrangement of indicators so as to satisfy the requirements for angles of visibility in paragraph 3.
(e) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1936 and any trailer manufactured before that date:
Any arrangement of indicators so as to make the intention of the driver clear to other road users.
2 Position–
(a) Longitudinal–
(i) A side repeater indicator which is required to be fitted in accordance with paragraph 1(a):
Within 2600 mm of the front of the vehicle
(ii) Any other indicator:
No requirement
(b) Lateral–
(i) Maximum distance from the side of the vehicle–
(A) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (B):
400 mm
(B) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986, a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985, a solo motor bicycle, a pedal cycle, a horse-drawn vehicle and a vehicle drawn or propelled by hand:
No requirement
(ii) Minimum separation distance between indicators on opposite sides of a vehicle–
(A) A motor vehicle (other than a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination or an invalid carriage having a maximum speed not exceeding 8 mph) first used on or after 1st April 1986, a trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985, a horse-drawn vehicle, a pedstrian-controlled vehicle and a vehicle drawn or propelled by hand:
500 mm or, if the overall width of the vehicle is less than 1400 mm, 400 mm
(B) A solo motor bicycle having an engine exceeding 50 cc and first used on or after 1st April 1986–
(1) Front indicators:
300 mm
(2) Rear indicators:
240 mm
(C) A solo motor bicycle having an engine not exceeding 50 cc and first used on or after 1st April 1986 and a pedal cycle–
(1) Front indicators:
240 mm
(2) Rear indicators:
180 mm
(D) A motor bicycle combination first used on or after 1st April 1986:
400 mm
(E) An invalid carriage having a maximum speed not exceeding 8 mph–
(1) Front indicators:
240 mm
(2) Rear indicators:
300 mm
(F) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985:
No requirement
(iii) Minimum separation distance between a front indicator and any dipped-beam headlamp or front fog lamp–
(A) Fitted to a motor vehicle, other than a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination, first used on or after 1st April 1995:
(a) in the case of a Category 1 indicator, 40 mm;
(b) in the case of a Category 1a indicator, 20 mm;
(c) in the case of a Category 1b indicator, no requirement
(B) Fitted to a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination in either case first used on or after 1st April 1986:
100 mm
(C) Fitted to any other vehicle:
No requirement
(c) Vertical–
(i) Maximum height above the ground–
(A) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (B) or (C):
1500 mm or, if the structure of the vehicle makes this impracticable, 2300 mm.
(B) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985:
No requirement
(C) A motor vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph:
No requirement
(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 (see diagrams in Part III of this Schedule)–
(A) A front or rear indicator fitted to a motor vehicle, other than a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination, having a maximum speed exceeding 25 mph and every rear indicator fitted to a trailer:
80° outwards and 45° inwards
(B) A front or rear indicator fitted to a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination:
80° outwards and 20° inwards
(C) A front or rear indicator fitted to a motor vehicle, other than a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination, having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph:
80° outwards and 3° inwards
(D) A side repeater indicator fitted to a motor vehicle or a trailer:
Between rearward angles of 5° outboard and 60° outboard or, in the case of a motor vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph where it is impracticable to comply with the 5° angle, this may be replaced by 10°.
(ii) Vertical–
(A) Except as provided by sub-paragraph (B), (C) or (D):
15° above and below the horizontal
(B) Where the highest part of the illuminated area of the lamp is less than 1900 mm above the ground and the vehicle is a motor vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph:
15° above and 10° below the horizontal
(C) 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
(D) But where the indicator is a category 6 indicator:
30° above and 5° below the horizontal
(b) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986, a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985, a pedal cycle, a horse-drawn vehicle and a vehicle drawn or propelled by hand:
Such that at least one (but not necessarily the same) indicator on each side is plainly visible to the rear in the case of a trailer and both to the front and rear in the case of any other vehicle.
4 Alignment–
(a) A front indicator:
To the front
(b) A rear indicator:
To the rear
(c) A side repeater indicator (Category 5 or 6):
As shown in the first sketch in Part III of this Schedule
5 Markings–
(a) A motor vehicle, other than a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination, first used on or after 1st April 1986 and a trailer, other than a trailer drawn by a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination, manufactured on or after 1st October 1985:
An approval mark and, above such mark, the following numbers–
in the case of a front indicator, “1”, “1a” or “1b”;
in the case of a rear indicator, “2”, “2a” or “2b”;
in the case of a side repeater indicator, “5” or “6”.
(b) A solo motor bicycle and a motor bicycle combination in either case first used on or after 1st April 1986, a trailer, manufactured on or after 1st October 1985, drawn by such a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination, a pedal cycle, a horse-drawn vehicle and a vehicle drawn or propelled by hand:
An approval mark and, above such mark, the following numbers–
in the case of a front indicator, “1”, “1a”, “1b” or “11”;
in the case of a rear indicator, “2”, “2a”, “2b” or “12”;
in the case of a side repeater indicator, “5”.
(c) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985:
No requirement
6 Size of illuminated area:
No requirement
7 Colour–
(a) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (b):
Amber
(b) An indicator fitted to a motor vehicle first used before 1st September 1965 and any trailer drawn thereby–
(i) if it shows only the front:
White or amber
(ii) if it shows only the rear:
Red or amber
(iii) if it shows both to the front and to the rear:
Amber
8 Wattage–
(a) Any front or rear indicator which emits a flashing light and does not bear an approval mark:
15 to 36 watts
(b) Any other indicator:
No requirement
9 Intensity–
(a) An indicator bearing an approval mark:
No requirement
(b) An indicator not bearing an approval mark:
Such that the light is plainly visible from a reasonable distance

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/7/part/I (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/road-vehicles-lighting-regulations-1989/schedule-7/part-I
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.