Moving a car with faulty rear lights.

[pmanson]

Hypothetically I need to move a car sometime on Friday over a distance of around 100 miles with faulty rear lights. (Dodgy earth has burnt out so the lights do funny things - If you have the indicators on and hit the brakes the indicators stop working!).

I have the parts on order with the guy I brought my car off and his son will fit them for me.

Whats the implications of me driving it? If I do drive it will be mid day to avoid too many problems. Should I put a warning notice in the rear window or is that admitting liability if someone hits me?

My brake lights still work btw.

I'm not driving the car at the minute because of the fault.


Thanks,

Phill

[pmanson]

Mr E said:

I'd be more concerned about someone piling into the back of you, and the police discovering that you knew the lights were bad and had the parts to fix them......

Parts are on order but i'm not at home (i'm down at uni).

Like I said earlier the brake lights work, its the indicators that aren't.

[pmanson]

UpTheIron said:

pmanson said: Like I said earlier the brake lights work, its the indicators that aren't. Use hand signals rather than indicators?

Hadn't thought of that. Good idea! (Although i doubt most people will understand what i'm trying to do!)

[pmanson]

IaHa said:

The law puts it like this: Regulation 23 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 said: concerning the maintenance of lamps, reflectors, rear markings and devices. It states:- 23(1) No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road a vehicle unless every lamp, reflector, rear marking and device with which it is required to be fitted by these Regulations is in good working order and in the case of a lamp, clean - 23(2) Save as provided in 23(3) - paragraph 23(1) applies to (a) every (i) front position lamp, (ii) rear position lamp, (iii) headlamp, (iv) rear registration plate lamp, (v) side marker lamp, (vi) end-outline marker lamp, (vii) rear fog lamp, (viii) retro reflector, (ix) rear marking. with which the vehicle is required by these Regulations to be fitted; and (b) every - (i) stop lamp, (ii) direction indicator, (iii) running lamp, (iv) dim-dip device, (v) headlamp levelling device, and (vi) hazard warning signal device. with which it is fitted. EXCEPTIONS: 23(3) Paragraph 23(2) above does not apply to - (a) a rear fog lamp on a vehicle which is part of a combination of vehicles any part of which is not required by these Regulations to be fitted with a rear fog lamp; (b) a rear fog lamp on a motor vehicle drawing a trailer; (c) a defective lamp, reflector, dim-dip device or headlamp levelling device on a vehicle in use on a road between sunrise and sunset, if any such lamp, reflector or device became defective during the journey which is in progress or if arrangements have been made to remedy the defect with all reasonable expedition; or (d) a lamp, reflector, dim-dip device, headlamp levelling device or rear marking on a combat vehicle in use on a road between sunrise and sunset. If the 100 mile trip has nothing to do with getting the lights repaired, you would struggle to use 'reasonable expedition' as a defence. That said I've stopped many motorists with a light out, and they get a warning. If the same chap is driving around a week later with the same light out, then he gets a ticket. I may however deal with your indicator problem by way of VDRS (Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme), whereby I task you to have the offending electrics sorted within a fortnight in lieu of prosecution.

So if stopped if I explain what is going on I should be ok?

Due to the earth problem the bulbs for the rear stop lights are flashing when I use the indicators (so i technically have red indicators at the back). However when I hit the brakes they stop flashing.

[pmanson]

Thanks for your help IaHa its appreciated.

[pmanson]

eccles said:

"remedy the defect with all reasonable expedition;" but could another officer interpret driving 100 miles as not being with reasonable expedition?......i mean whats to stop you getting the car repaired locally?

Nothing I suppose apart from the fact I don't know any local garages and where they are located.