high level rear lights on towcar

[TonyAsh]

Hello, if a towcar has high level rear lights, (indicators etc), and you are towing a trailer and the rear indicators can be clearly seen above the trailer, (obviously not a caravan), do you require indicator lights on the trailer? I assume tail and brake lights are compulsory.
Thanks for any opinions on this. Tony

 

[OmOnWeelz]

Still need proper lights.

"All trailers regardless of size are required by law to have working and visible tail lights including a number plate and triangle reflectors, See below for the regulation requirements:
Trailer Lighting Requirements
Trailers must have on the back two red sidelights, two red stop lamps, an illuminated number plate and two triangular red reflectors plus amber indicators designed to flash between 60 and 120 times per minute. If they are more than 1.3m wide, they must also have at least one red fog lamp. All trailers built after Sept 30th 1990 require front reflectors. They must have front reflectors and, if they are more than 1.6 metres wide, front position lights.
Requirements:
If, in the case of direction indicators, it is not possible to meet the maximum height requirements, this dimension can be increased to 2300mm.
If, in the case of the rear position (tail) lamps and stop lamps, it is not possible to meet the maximum height requirements, this dimension can be increased to 2100mm.
On trailers manufactured after 1 October 1985, the maximum height of the red triangular reflectors can be increased to 1200mm if necessary.
Trailers manufactured after 1 October 1985 require number plates, illuminated by an 'E' or 'e' marked lamp. If a clear window in the rear position lamp is approved, this can be used instead of a separate numberplate lamp but must be fitted to the manufacturer's instructions with regard to distance from the numberplate.
At least one rear fog light is mandatory on trailers over 1.3 m wide. Two lamps are preferred but, if only one is fitted, it must be to the offside or on the centre line of the trailer.
No maximum distance from the outer edge of the trailer is stated for a fog lamp(s) but there must be a minimum distance of 100mm from the stop lamp.
The distance of the direction indicator from the side of the trailer may not exceed the actual distance of the rear lamp by more than 50mm.
Trailers manufactured after 1 October 1985 which are more than 1600mm wide, (except boat trailers) require front position lamps (clear lens).
Certain trailers must have side position lights which show white to the front and red to the back. In addition, trailers over certain lengths must have amber side reflectors.
If you want to add lights just buy a small lighting board and fix to the trailer these are prewired."

 

[mullsy1]

My understanding is that a trailer needs an illuminated number plate,red sidelights,brakelights,indicators and reflectors whether the rear lights of the vehicle can be seen.If the trailer is more than 1.3m wide must also have fog lamp

Mike

 

[Phillipcharnwoodforest]

The triangular reflectors that you mention are you sure that they have to be fitted to all trailers ? The reason that I bring this up is that my caravan hasn't got any and never has had any from new. The caravan manufacturer didn't fit them. Also the triangle reflectors which ones do you fit the ones with the white suround or the plain ones, both used for different things. Just a couple of observations.

 

[Gafferbill]

Check your caravans rear light cluster……. sometimes the compulsory red triangles are embed in these.
Since they are reflectors they are easier to spot at night if a light source is shone on them!

 

[Phillipcharnwoodforest]

If they were on the rear light cluster would they give the required surface area?

 

[mullsy1]

As far as I know they're part of the rear light clusters although my initial reply regarded trailers not 'vans

mike

 

[Phillipcharnwoodforest]

I haven't looked at the rear lights on my caravan, but as gafferbill said they were in the cluster I had alook on the Towsure site at rear lights and they most certainly are incorporated into the rear light cluster. (I only looked on the web site 'coz it's too bloomin' cold to go outside and look at my caravan for real) I have learned something from this thread so it's been well worth it.

The trailer thing that you mention Tony as far as I'm aware yes you do need to have the rear lights indicators etc even if you can see them on the towing vehicle. If you take for example a trailer with a total length (including drawbar) of 6 feet the the lights would be 6 feet minimum away from the rear lights, so the potential for someone to hit it as it is in efect overhanging by 6 feet. If that makes sense.