Something on the side
Page 42
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by Les Oldridge, TEng (CEI), MINI, AMIRTE
MARK1NGS-3
PART VIII of the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1971 is entitled "Regulations Governing Additional Lamps on Long Vehicles and Trailers" and deals with side marker lamps and front corner marker lamps necessary on vehicles exceeding specified lengths.
A side marker lamp must show a white light to the front and side of a vehicle or trailer and a red light to the rear and side of a trailer, in each case to an angle of 70 degrees— forward for the white light and rearward for the red one. The illuminated area of both red and white lamps must be each not less than the area of a one inch (25.4mm) diameter circle.
(A. front corner marker lamp must show a white light to the front and side of a trailer through an angle of at least 90 degrees. The illuminated area must be not less than the area of a one-inch diameter circle. Beth front corner marker lamps and side marker lamps must be an integral part of the electrical system of the vehicle, be fitted with a bulb not exceeding 7 watts on which the wattage is indelibly marked and with frosted glass or other material which has the effect of diffusing the light. Lamps of both kinds must be carried so that they are not more than 5ft from the ground (1,524mm) although the height may be extended to 7ft 6in (2,286nmi) for vehicles carrying abnormal indivisible loads.
When are these extra lamps required? If the overall length of a vehicle or combination exceeds 60ft (18.3 metres) then side marker lights must be fitted. One light must be fitted net more than 30ft (9.144 metres) from the front and another not more than 10ft (3.048 metres) from the rear of the vehicle or vehicle train. Additional lamps must he fitted so that the dist ance between any two adjacent lamps does not exceed 10ft.
Where there is a combination of two or more vehicles being a motor vehicle and trailer(s) carrying a supported load whose length is between 40ft (12.192 metres) and 60 ft (18.3 metres) then side marker lamps must be carried on each side. One must be positioned behind the towing vehicle but not more than 5ft behind it, and if the load extends more than 30ft behind the towing vehicle another lamp must be fitted not more than 5ft (1.524 metres) to the rear of the -centre point of the overall length.
IT a trailer does not fall within either of the categories already described, then front corner marker lamps must be fitted, and if the trailer portion exceeds 30ft (9.144 metres) in length then side marker lamps must be carried on or not more than 5fit to the rear of the centre line of the trailer.
Front corner marker lamps must be fitted not more than 5ft from the front of the trailer and no part of the front of the trailer must project outwards from the lamp more than 12in (305mm). There is an exemption for goosenecked trailers which may have the lamps up to 12ft (3.658 metres) from the front.
Normal obligatory side and rear lamps, in addition to the special lamps described, must, of course, be used.
There are exemptions to the need for front corner marker lamps on trailers less than 7ft ein long (2286 metres), excluding drawbar, on trailers drawn by a passenger or dual-purpose vehicle if the overall length of the outfit is less than 40ft (12.192 metres); if the trailer is already carrying the additional side lamps required when its outer edges project more than 12in <304.8mm) beyond the obligatory lamps carried by the towing vehicle or where the combination is a broken down vehicle being towed by another vehicle.
Exemptions are made to the need for side marker lamps for a single vehicle having a special appliance fitted to it which is already fitted with projection marker boards; for a vehicle carrying a projecting load marked with projection marker boards and for broken dawn vehicle being towed.