Nudge bars - are they legal?

[A900ss]

I want to add some driving lights to my 2011 Mercedes Sprinter campervan and the easiest way to mount them is to fit an aftermarket nudge bar.

My question is, are they legal? Will I pass an MOT with a nudge bar fitted? I’m hazy on the law but know they are banned from being fitted for new vehicles but unsure on aftermarket.


Thanks.

[sherman]

Think this covers it. Not illegal but they arent liked

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bull-ba...

[paintman]

It's a modification so you need to ask your insurers if they will increase your premium - or refuse to cover at all.
Probably best to find ads for the one you are thinking of & ask before buying.

[dibblecorse]

Many insurers moved away from covering vehicles with nudge bars in the mid 90's when they were being fitted to everything from Vitaras to Transits .... one of the main reasons they are rarely seen these days ...

[surveyor_101]

On a commercials they are a minefield.

Back when I was based in wiltshire the council/contract got a load of 5.5tn merc sprinter/chassis cab lifted 4wd, multi highways vehicles.

These were used by parish stewards to keep areas repaired ,gritted in small patches and snow clearance it caused no end of issues. These has a snow plough bracket on the front not a full blown bull car.

Local police didn't like them these metal boxes slightly off front bumpers.

Then police refered to VOSA who initially said yeh fine and the supplier was a large fleet company via merc uk.

Next I know a vehicle inspector copper senior guy ~(PC) has stopped one and declared them dangerous, so the fleet of about 14 was grounded!

Took 3 months for us to agree a way forward and the solution was a new plastic bumper plate to bolt on the front to cover the metal and stop bodies being dragged under and protect pedestrians and cost a fortune to have these made and designed.

As said insurers won't touch it! It will have to be plastic if they do

The front of your vehicle has to meet pedestrian safety (2012 -13 so same age) if its designed since the regs apply! Long and short of it.

That was the biggest construction company in the UK 10 years ago!

Edited by surveyor_101 on Tuesday 14th February 13:40

[A900ss]

Sounds like it’s a ball ache so back to the drawing board for light mounts.

Thanks all

[anonymous-user]

Something like this work?



https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144681763519?mkcid=16&a...

[QBee]

The rules are designed to minimise the damage done to a pedestrian when in collision with your vehicle.
So any bracket that could cut their legs off at the knees would not be legal i suspect.

Pickup truck drivers seem to favour lights mounted up high. I can see that they would be lss likely to get stone damaged, and 8 feet off the ground they would be unlikely to de-leg a pedestrian.

[Mr Miata]

dibblecorse said:

Many insurers moved away from covering vehicles with nudge bars in the mid 90's when they were being fitted to everything from Vitaras to Transits .... one of the main reasons they are rarely seen these days ...

I thought bull bars were banned because of the increased chances of causing a fatality if the vehicle ran over a pedestrian?

And they’re not really needed in the UK. They were designed for the Australian outback where kangroos would run out in front of your road train. Something that doesn’t happen often on the school run in Cheshire.

Edited by Mr Miata on Tuesday 14th February 22:26

[TriumphStag3.0V8]

My Surf has a factory bull bar. I have never had any issues insuring or MOTing it. Maybe because it is an older vehicle (1992)? Should I start to be worried?