Rear fog light not working - illegal to drive the car?
Discussion
A quick question:
My car is fitted with a fog light with a bulb in, but when it was built, the light was not connected up. This means that when I put the rear fog light "on", I get a light on the dashboard but nothing extra appears on the back of the car. I can't find the wiring in the hatchback, otherwise I would have sorted it out....
Is it illegal to use the vehicle in this state? IE do I wait for the next service to get it sorted or do I need to do it now?
Cheers
Glen
My car is fitted with a fog light with a bulb in, but when it was built, the light was not connected up. This means that when I put the rear fog light "on", I get a light on the dashboard but nothing extra appears on the back of the car. I can't find the wiring in the hatchback, otherwise I would have sorted it out....
Is it illegal to use the vehicle in this state? IE do I wait for the next service to get it sorted or do I need to do it now?
Cheers
Glen
Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989
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.
(2) Save as provided in paragraph (3), applies to-
(vii) rear fog lamp,
3) Paragraph (2) does not apply to:
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; (Excuse?)
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.
(2) Save as provided in paragraph (3), applies to-
(vii) rear fog lamp,
3) Paragraph (2) does not apply to:
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; (Excuse?)
dvd
But, but, but
Dem dare Regs at Schedule 1 require that a motor vehicle be fitted with rear fog lamp, the only exemptions are:
A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph
A vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 being an agricultural vehicle or a works truck;
A vehicle first used before 1st April 1980;
A vehicle having an overall width which does not exceed 1300 mm.
Schedule 11 Part 1 sets out the number to be fitted - one on the rear centre line or to the offside with allowance for an optional extra to be part of a matched pair.
So taking a bulb out will not help matters......lamp required and to be maintained.
Offence: Max fine £1000. No points or disqualification under that Reg/Parent Act.
dvd
Dem dare Regs at Schedule 1 require that a motor vehicle be fitted with rear fog lamp, the only exemptions are:
A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph
A vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 being an agricultural vehicle or a works truck;
A vehicle first used before 1st April 1980;
A vehicle having an overall width which does not exceed 1300 mm.
Schedule 11 Part 1 sets out the number to be fitted - one on the rear centre line or to the offside with allowance for an optional extra to be part of a matched pair.
So taking a bulb out will not help matters......lamp required and to be maintained.
Offence: Max fine £1000. No points or disqualification under that Reg/Parent Act.
dvd
That doesn't count, you have to take the light off at least, and possibly remove the wiring and switch as well... I vaguely remember this from trying to get a car through an MoT with a dysfunctional, non-original fog light. It turned out to be less hassle to fix the fog light than to take enough of it off to pass the MoT.
OTOH apart from the MoT tester who's going to know it's dud?
OTOH apart from the MoT tester who's going to know it's dud?
deva link said:
GlenMH said:
My car is fitted with a fog light with a bulb in, but when it was built, the light was not connected up.
What sort of car is this? It's *most* unlikely that it's 'not connected up' unless it's hand built or something.
Glen
No wait hang on...
I thought that your car (if built after April 1980) HAD TO have a rear fog lamp - and it HAS TO work.
Removing all the lamp and wiring and gubbins would only be legal if the car was built before that date - is it doesn't have to have it in the first place.
My Saab had two fog lamps fitted in the rear clusters, but only one of them had a bulb in (how penny-pinching is that?).
As for the Honda Civic mentioned, I didn't think it was legal to sell a car that didn't comply with Construction and Use regs (ie with no rear fogs at all) and I would be back to the garage and getting them to fix it free and pronto.
I thought that your car (if built after April 1980) HAD TO have a rear fog lamp - and it HAS TO work.
Removing all the lamp and wiring and gubbins would only be legal if the car was built before that date - is it doesn't have to have it in the first place.
My Saab had two fog lamps fitted in the rear clusters, but only one of them had a bulb in (how penny-pinching is that?).
As for the Honda Civic mentioned, I didn't think it was legal to sell a car that didn't comply with Construction and Use regs (ie with no rear fogs at all) and I would be back to the garage and getting them to fix it free and pronto.
GlenMH said:
deva link said:
GlenMH said:
My car is fitted with a fog light with a bulb in, but when it was built, the light was not connected up.
What sort of car is this? It's *most* unlikely that it's 'not connected up' unless it's hand built or something.
Glen
Bear in mind that some cars have the light cluster with the bulb in, but only one light is used. Happened on a mates car, two fogs, with wiring to only one of them.
GlenMH said:
deva link said:
GlenMH said:
My car is fitted with a fog light with a bulb in, but when it was built, the light was not connected up.
What sort of car is this? It's *most* unlikely that it's 'not connected up' unless it's hand built or something.
Glen
A wee word of warning here Glen.
If you are leasing this car and it's Japanese without a fog light, I guarantee you it's an import NOT purchased through a dealer: a lot of leasing companies are up to this.
I suggest for your own peace of mind you get an engineers report done on it, just to make sure that it's 100% legal to use in this country.
There are many subtle but significant differences in these imports that can matter greatly when it comes to points of law, particularly Construction and Use.
philthy said:
Bear in mind that some cars have the light cluster with the bulb in, but only one light is used. Happened on a mates car, two fogs, with wiring to only one of them.
I think one (or more) EU countries mandate one rear foglight, mounted anywhere between the centre line and offside of the vehicle - i.e. NO foglight between centre line and nearside. It (sort of) makes sense; if a bulb fails, it's preferable to not have a rear foglight at all rather than one which leaves following drivers trying to guess which side of the light is the large lump of metal which they don't want to run into.
IIRC my Skoda Octavia uses twin-filament 5/21W bulbs in both rear light clusters for tail/rear fog lights, but only the offside one is wired up as a foglight. I guess the other side one is wired up on LHD models.
philthy said:
GlenMH said:
deva link said:
GlenMH said:
My car is fitted with a fog light with a bulb in, but when it was built, the light was not connected up.
What sort of car is this? It's *most* unlikely that it's 'not connected up' unless it's hand built or something.
Glen
Bear in mind that some cars have the light cluster with the bulb in, but only one light is used. Happened on a mates car, two fogs, with wiring to only one of them.
Our 406 has symmetrical rear light clusters but there was no bulb and no wiring to the LH fog lamp, only the RH unit worked. I had the bulb and wiring added on the LH side. Penny pinching frogs!
Best wishes all,
Dave.
jith said:
A wee word of warning here Glen.
If you are leasing this car and it's Japanese without a fog light, I guarantee you it's an import NOT purchased through a dealer: a lot of leasing companies are up to this.
I suggest for your own peace of mind you get an engineers report done on it, just to make sure that it's 100% legal to use in this country.
There are many subtle but significant differences in these imports that can matter greatly when it comes to points of law, particularly Construction and Use.
Hi Jith
I ought to make myself clear. The car was supplied by a UK main dealer, leased by Lex (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of my employer) and then passed on to me as a company car. I am quite certain that they are not in the business of passing out imports as they have a fleet of over a quarter of a million vehicles.
I think the c0ck-up fairy came along during production: the nearside fitting is indeed blanked. The offside one is fitted with a bulb - which is correct. There is no wiring in either side of the tailgate to supply the bulb. So apart from actually putting the wiring in place, all is correct.
I would be interested to see how many on here (apart from Trafpol) check their lights daily...
Glen
Edited by GlenMH on Monday 31st July 21:15
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