Flashing Signals to be Separated
Page 48
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ACCORDING to proposals circulated last week by the Ministry of Transport, all direction indicators fitted to motof vehicles first registered on or after January 1, 1959, and to trailers constructed after that date, must be amber in colour.
The illuminated area of a flashing indicator must be in a separate housing from any other light,' or it must be internally separated and shielded from any obligatory front, rear or stop lamp.
Two possible arrangements are proposed where a vehicle has "amber
ears." One -" car," with a horizontal range of visibility of at least 55' to the. sideand front and 750 to the side and rear, may be fitted on each side. Alternatively, one indicator with smaller arcs may be mounted on each side, but supplemented by an additional flashing light on each side at the rear giving an illuminated angle of 1350 to the side and rear.
Indicators mounted on front wings and the rear. panel must be visible through an angle of 1350 to the side and front or rear. They may be supplemented by side "pimple" indicators or "amber ears" illuminating an arc of at least 650 to the side and rear. An angle of 135° applies to rear flashing lights on trailers or to rear " winkers " fitted in addition to semaphore arms on motor vehicles.
At least sq. in, of the illuminated area of any flashing signal must he visible horizontally throughout the specified angles and, except in the case of supplementary side "pimples" or "ears," over angles of 15 above and 5' below the horizontal.
Minimum intensities of light at various angles are prescribed, with a maximum of 200 candelas.
The Minister thinks that any vehicle with flashing indicators on the front wings and rear panel should have extra repeaters on the scuttle, and that rear repeaters should be fitted in addition to side indicators. There is, however, no question at present of compelling the provision of direction indicators.