Deep Singh

This may be a stupid question but as these are called driving lights are you allowed to use them for driving at night or will plod nick you if it's not foggy?

Pete Croney

If your driving lights are wired in correctly, it will not be possible to use them without activating high beam.

To wire them in any other way, or to use them in a way which may dazzle other road users (and it definitely would!!), is a criminal offense and may easily cause an accident.

PeterPerfect

Legal limit is 55W

Gas Discharge are 35W

MTR

PeterPerfect,
I thought that the wattge limit was as you stated, 55W, or 65W for full beam, but according to the road traffic act, this does not appear to be the case.

In fact when I did a search for Road Traffic Act, on the internet, it would appear , at least from the Irish site I found that there is no upper limit on the wattage used for headlamps as well.

I believe there is no upper limit for the wattage of any OPTIONAL main beam headlamps, as defined in the road traffic act as lamps that illuminate with full beam.
Also there are no positional legalities, which is not the case for fog lights, which are defined as lights that can be illuminated without headlights.
See this site for some clarification,
.

PeterPerfect

Opps....I assumed the 55W limit covered all lights.
Thanks for pointing that out MTR

Would be nice to get the official 'boys in blue' statement on this

Pete

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

I have got 130w SS Cibs

Being the sad & law abiding git that I am, I checked with plod, in the form of Dick Grimes, former Chairman of SIDC & an Essex Police Driving Instructor before I bought my Cibs.

Providing (as stated above) the lights are not used to dazzle & are set as Driving Lights, then there is no legal limit in wattage. Just to back that up, he has PIAAs on his scoob

HunterB

According to The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, there is "no requirement" regarding the wattage of obligatory dipped beam headlamps, obligatory main beam headlamps, optional main beam headlamps or optional front fog lamps, so you can use any wattage you like. You can also have "any number" of optional main beam headlamps, but "not more than two" optional front fog lamps for a vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1991.

PeterPerfect

Well, you learn something new every day on ScoobyNet hey

Deep Singh

You guys have completely confused this simpleton, can you just tell me is it legal to use my PIAA lamps(I think they have 120w bulbs) at night when it's not foggy.Simple answers for a simple person please.Cheers.

Dave T-S

YES - because they are driving lamps NOT fog lamps.

Simple enough?

Deep Singh

Yes it is ......almost!Is it ok to use the main headlamps at the same time?Sorry if I'm being really dense,thanks for the help.And by the way why did Pete Croney reckon it was an offence to use them then

GM

The driving lamps have to be wired up so they only work when you also have main beam headlights on. When you dip the headlamps the driving lamps must automatically switch off. If you have them wired up differently - so that they can be used with dip beam - then you are breaking the law.

This means that you can't just change the original fogs for driving lamps - you have to rewire them as well. The fogs can be used with either main beam or dip and so aren't wired up in the same way.

G

Deep Singh

Thanks, all is now clear.

Dave T-S

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Deep Singh:
<B>Yes it is ......almost!Is it ok to use the main headlamps at the same time?Sorry if I'm being really dense,thanks for the help.And by the way why did Pete Croney reckon it was an offence to use them then[/quote]


Pete C reckons it's an offence to use PIAA's - cos he sells Cibies LOL!!

GrahamF

I believe I'm right in saying that it's technically illegal to use them in good conditions even if they are wired to come on only with main beam. I think driving lights and spotlights are required to be above 2 feet from the ground unless used in poor visibility. That's certainly used to be the rule when spotlights were permitted on rally cars, and I think it came from the Construction and Use Act. They'll have a job to nick you though as long they go oout on dip.

Graham

Deep Singh

Thanks guys.

DARREN

Sanspeeds in BexleyHeath where i live have 80w/100w PIAA H4 bulbs which i am going to try in my headlamps!!!!.the wiring should cope with the amps,cant wait to see how bright they are!!!!£20.00 a pair

Cheers

Greg115

As the RB5 vehicles have PIAA driving lights fitted as standard, I assume the legality of this setup would have been resolved before Subaru could sell the vehicles under construction and use rules.
Greg