Roof mounted lights

[V10 SPM]

Are there any specific rules regarding the use of white forward facing roof-mounted lights on the road? Can such lights be set up as daytime running lights or headlights or may they only operate in association with main beam?

[Bill]

AIUI they can only be used on the road at all if they sit forward of the front axle.

[2Btoo]

Bill said:

AIUI they can only be used on the road at all if they sit forward of the front axle.

The only scenario which I can think of in which this would be possible would be a landie with one of those very long roofracks that extends froward over the bonnet. And - I guess - lorries where the cab is over the front wheels and the lights are at the front of the cab roof.

[Bill]

Exactly.

[harrycovert]

I remember these back in the day.

[shakotan]

Front position lamps
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/sched...

Max height 1500mm, or 2100mm if the vehicles structure makes this impossible.

Dipped Headlamps
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/sched...

Max height 1200mm

Main beam Headlamps
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/sched...

No maximum

Edited by shakotan on Thursday 7th March 15:55

[Puddenchucker]

Roof mounted lights were an option on the previous gen Nissan X-Trail:





And obviously many tractors and other agricultural vehicles have rood mounted field/working lights.

[48k]

Puddenchucker said:

Roof mounted lights were an option on the previous gen Nissan X-Trail:

And I find them pretty effective down the country lanes at night, but the switch to turn them on is a really awkward place to reach.

[4rephill]

48k said:

Puddenchucker said:

Roof mounted lights were an option on the previous gen Nissan X-Trail:

And I find them pretty effective down the country lanes at night, but the switch to turn them on is a really awkward place to reach.

I suspect that was because they were for "off-road use only"

[Biker 1]

I had a couple of spot lamps mounted to roof bars on my Renault 4 many moons ago. Oncoming vehicles who had forgotten to dip their headlights got the full-on blinding when I hit the switch....

[Bill]

I had some on a Defender we went travelling in. They were occasionally useful for spotting turnings etc but tended to fill in holes and dips making them harder to spot.

[Drumroll]

Biker 1 said:

I had a couple of spot lamps mounted to roof bars on my Renault 4 many moons ago. Oncoming vehicles who had forgotten to dip their headlights got the full-on blinding when I hit the switch....

Well that was really clever of you. Blind a driver as he is coming towards you.