Lighting
4-7 Rearward-facing position lamps
Reasons for rejection
Mandatory and permitted equipment
1. Refer to general vehicle pages.
2. A heavy vehicle is fitted at the rear with:
a) only one top-mounted lamp, or
b) more than one pair of top-mounted lamps, or
c) top-mounted lamps that are not mounted as close as is practicable to the top corners of the bodywork.
3. A rearward-facing position lamp (other than top-mounted lamps):
a) in the case of a vehicle with one or one pair, is fitted at a height from the ground exceeding 1.5m (or 2.1m where fitting below 1.5m is not practicable due to the shape of the bodywork of the vehicle), or
b) in the case of a vehicle with two pairs:
i. the lower pair is fitted at a height from the ground exceeding 1.5m (or 2.1m where fitting below 1.5m is not practicable due to the shape of the bodywork of the vehicle), or
ii. the other pair is fitted at a height from the ground exceeding 2.1m.
Condition
4. Refer to general vehicle pages.
Performance
5. Refer to general vehicle pages.
Note 1 Definitions
Modify means to change a vehicle from its original state by altering, substituting, adding or removing a structure, system, component or equipment, but does not include repair.
Repair means to restore a damaged or worn vehicle, its structure, systems, components or equipment to within safe tolerance of its condition when manufactured, including replacement with undamaged or new structures, systems, components or equipment.
Position lamp means a low-intensity lamp that is designed to indicate to road users the presence and dimensions of a vehicle, being:
a) a forward-facing position lamp (front side lamp), or
b) a rearward-facing position lamp (rear side lamp or tail lamp), or
c) a side-marker lamp, or
d) an end-outline marker lamp (including cab roof lamp).
Note 2
A permitted rearward-facing position lamp that does not comply with equipment, condition and performance requirements must be made to comply or be disabled so that it does not emit a light.
Note 3
An original equipment (OE) lamp is one that is fitted by the vehicle manufacturer in the original position, or is an equivalent replacement or aftermarket lamp suitable for the position provided by the vehicle manufacturer for that lamp. All other lamps, including those fitted by the body builder, are considered retrofitted (ie non-OE).
Note 4
A vehicle originally manufactured with a position lamp arrangement that differs from what is required or permitted in this section may retain the original position lamps provided they remain fitted in their original position and perform as intended by the vehicle manufacturer. This does not include lamps fitted by a body builder.
Summary of legislation
Applicable legislation
Permitted equipment
1. A heavy vehicle may be fitted with an additional pair of rearward-facing position lamps that must be symmetrically mounted as near the top corners of the bodywork of the vehicle as is practicable (top-mounted lamps).
2. Rearward-facing position lamps (excluding top-mounted lamps) may be mounted as follows:
a) one lamp or one pair at a height from the ground not exceeding 1.5m, or if this is not practicable due to the shape of the bodywork of the vehicle, not exceeding 2.1m, and
b) a second pair at a height from the ground not exceeding 2.1m.
Condition
3. Refer to general vehicle pages.
Performance
4. Refer to general vehicle pages.
Modifications
5. Refer to general vehicle pages.