No brake lights - penalty = ?
Discussion
The brake light swtich has failed on my friends car, therefore none of the brake lights work. It's been over a week and he hasn't bothered to fix it yet. (Every day is a little miracle that he makes it home without getting hit in the rear.)
I think he's a muppet so I'd like to tell him how much trouble it can get him in (besides the obvious rear end shunt!).
What's the likely penalty if he were seen by police driving without brake lights?
Cheers.
I think he's a muppet so I'd like to tell him how much trouble it can get him in (besides the obvious rear end shunt!).
What's the likely penalty if he were seen by police driving without brake lights?
Cheers.
fone your local station, report the moron & find out?
i know its not hard to drive behind a car that doesnt have brakelights (normally takes me ages to decide if they arent working or the driver is the one who looks ahead or not) but most numpties out there dont look ahead & will ram him.
i know its not hard to drive behind a car that doesnt have brakelights (normally takes me ages to decide if they arent working or the driver is the one who looks ahead or not) but most numpties out there dont look ahead & will ram him.
Road Vehicle Lighting Regs 1969
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 to which this paragraph applies is in good working order and, in the case of a lamp, clean.
Applies to every-
stop lamp
BUT not to a defective lamp on a vehicle in use on a road between sunrise and sunset, if any such lamp, became defective during the journey which is in progress or if arrangements have been made to remedy the defect with all reasonable expedition.
Punishment:
Court - Max fine of £1,000. No points, possible disqualification from another Act, or
Fixed penalty. or
Ticket under Vehicle Defect rectification Scheme.
dvd
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 to which this paragraph applies is in good working order and, in the case of a lamp, clean.
Applies to every-
stop lamp
BUT not to a defective lamp on a vehicle in use on a road between sunrise and sunset, if any such lamp, became defective during the journey which is in progress or if arrangements have been made to remedy the defect with all reasonable expedition.
Punishment:
Court - Max fine of £1,000. No points, possible disqualification from another Act, or
Fixed penalty. or
Ticket under Vehicle Defect rectification Scheme.
dvd
Many cars have rear lights and brakes lights made up of numerous individual elements - in some cases, a dozen or more.
Would it be safe to assume that a single or few non-working individual elements would be permitted, provided that the unit overall is still effective for illumination?
Would it be safe to assume that a single or few non-working individual elements would be permitted, provided that the unit overall is still effective for illumination?
ajstephe said:
If you know his insurance company I would report it to them. Definitely approach the local cop shop so they can gather intelligence on the car and owner.
I know of several criminals that used this method of making claims of personal injury. They used to make sure the brake lights were not functioning, slam on the anchors and get people to crash into them.
I suppose one could go down the lines of fraud
if your doing that it better too fit a switch up behind the dash and don't just slam em on you got to be a bit more subtle than that.I know of several criminals that used this method of making claims of personal injury. They used to make sure the brake lights were not functioning, slam on the anchors and get people to crash into them.
I suppose one could go down the lines of fraud
Edited by outlaw... on Friday 24th August 00:51
I'm sure most people just don't realise that they're not working. Knowing that they don't work and not doing anything to fix them thats a whole different story.
I see cars in London everyday with defective blubs be it indictors, brake lights or front/rear lights, unsupringly most of these tend to be on older cars, some which might fall into the category of a shed on wheels.
I followed a black cab on my motorbike through the rotherhithe tunnel at peak time (meaning a stop start queue) and didn't see his brake lights work once. I actually pulled up along side him when we left and told him about it and he actually thanked me for letting him know!
I see cars in London everyday with defective blubs be it indictors, brake lights or front/rear lights, unsupringly most of these tend to be on older cars, some which might fall into the category of a shed on wheels.
I followed a black cab on my motorbike through the rotherhithe tunnel at peak time (meaning a stop start queue) and didn't see his brake lights work once. I actually pulled up along side him when we left and told him about it and he actually thanked me for letting him know!
outlaw... said:
ajstephe said:
If you know his insurance company I would report it to them. Definitely approach the local cop shop so they can gather intelligence on the car and owner.
I know of several criminals that used this method of making claims of personal injury. They used to make sure the brake lights were not functioning, slam on the anchors and get people to crash into them.
I suppose one could go down the lines of fraud
if your doing that it better too fit a switch up behind the dash and don't just slam em on you got to be a bit more subtle than that.I know of several criminals that used this method of making claims of personal injury. They used to make sure the brake lights were not functioning, slam on the anchors and get people to crash into them.
I suppose one could go down the lines of fraud
Edited by outlaw... on Friday 24th August 00:51
Years ago I used to drive cars with switches like that, flick the switch and no brake and no reversing lights
And all perfectly legal as well..and all fitted by my former employer lol.
All the best Brett
Crikey - the OP states that it's a friend of his and there's people on here who think that they should be reported to the police or their insurance company! I hope I don't have and friends like you guys.
It is quite a serious problem so surely the best way to deal with it is to tell the friend that they are being an idiot and to help them fix it, rather than getting on the phone to the police!
It is quite a serious problem so surely the best way to deal with it is to tell the friend that they are being an idiot and to help them fix it, rather than getting on the phone to the police!
mouseymousey said:
Crikey - the OP states that it's a friend of his and there's people on here who think that they should be reported to the police or their insurance company! I hope I don't have and friends like you guys.
It is quite a serious problem so surely the best way to deal with it is to tell the friend that they are being an idiot and to help them fix it, rather than getting on the phone to the police!
Point taken, but let me assure you as a motor engineer of over 35 years experience that few faults on a vehicle have more potentially disastrous implications.It is quite a serious problem so surely the best way to deal with it is to tell the friend that they are being an idiot and to help them fix it, rather than getting on the phone to the police!
Over the years I have been involved in numerous investigations involving accidents caused by no brake lights, some of them very serious indeed.
It is only when you travel behind a vehicle without them you begin to realise how utterly impossible it is to initially tell that it is stopping.
Most modern vehicles have brake light failure warning devices on the dash; my Audi is 16 years old and it has it!!
Tell him not to drive until he fixes it, because if he causes an accident he will most definitely be liable.
10 Pence Short said:
Haven't BMW now been allowed to run LED brakes lights which increase in brightness in line with the intensity of braking. I always thought it was a great idea.
Yep, saw a numpty the other day tailgating on the motorway , everything slows down a bit and his brake lights come on...then it suddenly stops and his brake lights got brighter !. mouseymousey said:
Crikey - the OP states that it's a friend of his and there's people on here who think that they should be reported to the police or their insurance company! I hope I don't have and friends like you guys.
It is quite a serious problem so surely the best way to deal with it is to tell the friend that they are being an idiot and to help them fix it, rather than getting on the phone to the police!
I have done everything I can. I've found the part number, given him the number of his local garage to buy the part and provided a link to a VW forum where a mod has done a very detailed "how to" for changing the switch to show him how to do it. Short of stealing his money and keys and doing it myself I'm at a bit of a loss.It is quite a serious problem so surely the best way to deal with it is to tell the friend that they are being an idiot and to help them fix it, rather than getting on the phone to the police!
TBH it is getting to the point where I'm actually considering reporting him cos he STILL HAS N@T FCKING DONE IT!
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