Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Twin Headlights & The Law

[Rocker]

Could any of our members connected with the law please tell me what year the law banning twin headlight set ups having both lights illuminated at the same time came into force
Any other details of this law would be appreciated
Also if anyone knows where I can find a reference to this law on the internet it would be very helpful

[Edited on 1-9-2004 by Rocker]

[NBs996]

I've not heard of this one! Don't know about the law, but the MOT manual seems to accept a twin light setup, and doesn't say anything about age of the bike:

On twin headlamp systems only one or both headlamp may be illuminated for either dipped or main beam. Each headlamp that can be illuminated on dipped beam must meet the requirement for dipped beam headlamps. Twin headlamps must be mounted either one above the other or symmetrically without regard to any side car and not more than 200mm apart measured from the edge of the reflecting surface.

Full text is on MOT website: http://www.motuk.co.uk/mcmanual_120.htm

[Rushjob]

Not one I'm aware of!
Is it purely bike related?
If so, it will be post 2003 as ST's using both beams together were type approved for 2003 - not sure if the new ST uses both filaments on main.
Although I don't have my reference books to hand, the only thing I could hazard a guess at is an EC directive of some sorts - I'm certainly not aware of any UK legislation along these lines.
If it's an EC one, it will relate to new vehicles from the inception date of the legislation - they are not retrospective.
If I find anything when I get back to work, I'll let you know.
Andy

[antonye]

I don't think there is a law, but I think the EC directive is that a bike with twin lights is easily mistaken for a car at distance, thus becomes a danger to the motorcyclist as cars pull out on them.

As Andy says it won't be retrospective but has probably been applied to new bikes from a certain date.

[uncle porry]

don`t know about the law for twin headlights on bikes, but it should apply to tractors, a couple of years ago i nearly had a head on with one, he had two small headlights at the top of his grill and it gave the illusion that it was a car at distance...beware !

[moto748]

It's not illegal to have two dipped beams as such, or all the R1/R6's on the road would be illegal for a start!

[Rocker]

Thanks for your help guys. I was asking because a know all on another bike group who is an ex police officer (alledgedly) claimed that the law was brought in during the 60s because drivers were mistaking bikes for cars in the distance due to of all things the 2 small sidelights on some Royal Enfields (Ask your dad )
He has now had to admit he is wrong for the first time in the 3 years that the list has been going
Thanks again

[NBs996]

So maybe that's why there's the rule of a max spacing of 200mm??
So your ex-copper blokey might not be too wrong after all!

[Rocker]

Yes I'm sure that this was the reason for the width regulation.The topic came up because he admited that he had pulled out on a triumph trophy whilst driving his car because he thought it was a car in the distance. He then went to say how stupid the rider was to have altered his wiring to have both lights on.It was when I said that Trophys came like that as standard he claimed that it had been ilegal since the 60s

[Monty]

The only place I am aware of that bans both lights on together is Australia-the 916 series had to be wired so that it was not possible to have both lights on together.

John