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MOT question - foglamps / reversing lights

Old Jan 24, 2001 | 12:08 AM
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I'm no expert, but I'll have a guess

It's my understanding that rear fog light is compulasry and must be on the offside (nearest the middle of the road).
Reversing lights are not compulsary and can be on either side if you have them.
I had a mini with rear fog on offside and one reversing light on nearside and it never failed its mot (well not for those anyway - rust bucket )

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Old Jan 24, 2001 | 11:30 AM
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Not strictly Scooby related but I'm trying to help out a mate and you guys are so knowledgeable! *creep*

Does the MOT require the rear foglamp to be situated on the nearside of the car? I.e. the side that is nearest to the middle of the road.

And with regards to reversing lights, I know it's not a legal requirement to have one, but if a single reversing light is fitted, does it matter which side of the car it is on? And I assume it is required by law to illuminate clear / white?

Many thanks,

Ade.
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Old Jan 24, 2001 | 11:57 AM
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Just for clarification, I always understood "nearside" to be "passenger side" and offside to be drivers side.

I have seen cars with single fog lamps at all positions on the bumper, and due to their age they must have passed MOTs...

Still, best check with someone who has a clue (ie not me).
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Old Jan 24, 2001 | 03:18 PM
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By law (Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989) where one rear fog lamp is fitted to a vehicle it must be situated on the centre line or offside of the vehicle. (Regulation 18 RVLR 1989 IIRC)

In the case of reversing lights, there is no legal requirement as to their position on a vehicle, however there much be no more than two and they must only be capable of showing a white light (Regulation 20 RVLR 1989).

PS - I think you've got your offside & nearsides muddled up - offside is the drivers side.

Hope this answers it for you
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Old Jan 24, 2001 | 03:25 PM
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If you look at the Rover 214 & Pug GTI they have 1 reversing light closest to the curb & 1 Fog light, on the drivers side, I think you need a Fog light on any car made after 1983, & 2 working brake lights on any vehicle after 1963.
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Old Jan 24, 2001 | 03:46 PM
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My WRX has the brake light in the rear spoiler, setup as a fog light and that has just passed its MOT with no bother. I have also noticed that 206’s have a fog light in the middle of the rear bumper.

Yee

PS think of near side as near to the curb.
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Old Jan 24, 2001 | 04:01 PM
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Thanks all!

I somehow seem to have got confused between nearside and offside...

I don't know, these idiots that don't even know left from right...!
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Old Jan 24, 2001 | 06:01 PM
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MOT rules are thus -

Min 1 Fog light, situated in the middle of the car, or to the offside.

Reverse lights are nothing to do with the MOT, and do NOT need to be fitted. If they are fitted the must not show white light while the vehicle is moving foward.

Regards,

David
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Old Jan 24, 2001 | 08:21 PM
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My WRX has the offside reversing light painted red to act as a fog light, while keeping the nearside position for it's intended role.

I think this is a common MX5 conversion also.
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Old Jan 24, 2001 | 08:47 PM
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Same here... When I bought my STi5, I had the offside reversing bulb removed and replaced with a fog lamp, wired through to the dash.

Nearside reversing lamp is still in place,

Scott
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