Front running lights

Graymee

My Bailey Pageant Provence has white running lights roughly level with the bottom of the front windows. If I'm towing on a wet night these sometimes make it quite difficult to see what's behind me if there is spray on the mirrors. Is it a legal requirement to have working running light or could I remove the bulbs. They're only 5W bulbs so I doubt I could get lower wattage bulbs so they're not so bright.

DaveCyn

Simple answer they are a legal requirement. 

Maybe try different mirrors.

 

Graymee

Do you have a reference? Where is it laid down that you need them? I'd like to read the reference to see if I could disable them and put other lights higher up if that's possible.

 

DaveCyn

The reference is the Road Traffic Act 1988 which requires all vehicles, including trailers to show white lights at the front when on the highway.

It's a very lengthy document which the Highway Code is based on.

Graymee

I'm more inclined to think the facts would be in the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations not the Road Traffic Act.

 

DaveCyn

The RTA covers everything that moves on the highway, all other's are derived from its content.

 

lornalou1

could you not disable them and place new ones lower on the front skirt. That's where most caravan front running lights are and I don't think there is a law that says they have to be a certain height above ground level.  

Vulcan

If that is the case why have you asked the question when it is clearly stated in the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989.

Lutz

What you could perhaps do is to move them further down. The regulations only state that the lights must be no more than 1500mm above the ground.

cyberyacht

I'm sure that the front lights on my 2007 Abbey were higher than that. BICBW

lornalou1

similar to what I suggested Lutz.

Navigateur

Do you not find that your front towing cover sometimes "accidentally" covers the trailer lights?

richardandros

Both towing covers I have had, have either battery operated lights in pockets on the cover or purpose made plastic panels for the lights to shine through.