Be sure to install the proper lights for your trailer or towing devices is an obligation of law as per The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989. Here, we outline how to make sure that the lights on your trailer comply with the minimum legal standards.
A legal requirement is that trailers include on their backs the following: two sidelights in red, two stoplamps and the number plates are illuminated as well as two red reflectors in triangular shapes, as well as amber-colored indicators that flash between 60 to 120 times per minute.
If the trailer light board is greater than 1.3 metres in width and 1.3 metres wide, they should also have at the very least one red fog light. All trailers constructed on or after September 30, 1990 must have front reflectors. If they are larger than 1.6 meters wide front position lights.
Requirements (as stipulated in NTTA):
In the event of direction indicators, it’s not feasible to meet the dimensions for height, this dimension may be raised to 2300mm.
If, in the instance of front lamps, the position (tail) lamps as well as stop lamps, it’s impossible to meet the height requirements, the dimension may be increased up to 2100mm.
For trailers built from 1 October 1985 onwards the height limit of red triangular reflectors may be raised to 1200mm if required.
Trailers built after October 1, 1985 must have number plates that are lit with an “E” or an” marked lamp. If a clear glass within the back position light is approved it can be used in place of an additional number plate lamp, but it must be installed according to specifications of the manufacturer regarding location of the plate.
A back fog light required for trailers greater than 1.3 meters wide. Two lamps are recommended, however in the event that only one lamp is installed, it should be located offside or at the centre that runs through the middle of the vehicle. The maximum distance between the edges of the vehicle is stipulated for fog lamp(s) however there should be an absolute distance of 100mm from the stop light.
Distance of direction indicators from either rear of the trailer should not be greater than what is actually the distance between the lamp and the trailer by 50mm.
Trailers built after 1 October 1985 that are more than 1600mm in width, (not boat trailers, they are the only exceptions) require front-position lights (clear lenses).
Certain trailers have side-mounted lights that display white towards from the front, and red at the back. Furthermore, trailers of certain lengths should have side reflectors in amber.
Disclaimer: The information contained in the guide was intended to serve as an aid. It is as up-to-date as at the time when it was published as far as we could to create it. This is up to each person who relies on the above information to confirm their findings with the original documents or any updated laws, instruments or modifications in law.
What exactly is Regulation 48?
Regulation 48 rev. 3 (Reg. 48-03)
This is the rule to install illumination and signifying. Revision 3 specifies that retroreflective marks in accordance with EC104 are now required for all newly issued EU types of approval to trucks 7.5T and above (O3 or O4). This means that all vehicles that is sold to countries that automatically adopt 48-03 require ECE approved markings.
ECE104
European Regulation for retroreflective HGV markings. Markings that comply the requirements of Regulation 48.
Directive 76/756/ECC
This directive creates EU type approvals mandatory . It ensures it is mandatory for all EU countries have to adopt the 48-03 directive.
ECWVTA 70/156
A European Full Vehicle Type Approval is a way for any OEM to receive a full Type Approval for the vehicle in order to use in the EU. Any vehicle that is approved within an EU country that has EU Type Approval is able to be sold anywhere within the EU without needing an extra National Type Approval.