Correct as at 16th April 2024. It may be superseded at any time.
Extract taken: from Vehicle Inspection Portal > VIRMs > In-service certification (WoF and CoF) > Motorcycles > Lighting > Direction indicator lamps
4-5 Direction indicator lamps
Reasons for rejection
Mandatory and permitted equipment
1. A motorcycle first registered in New Zealand on or after 1 January 1978, other than one that is exempted (Table 4-5-1) is not fitted with:
a) one pair of lamps to the front, and
b) one pair of lamps to the rear.
2. A motorcycle first registered in New Zealand before 1 January 1978 is fitted with more than:
a) one pair of lamps to the front, or
b) one pair of lamps to the rear, or
c) two side-facing lamps on each side of the motorcycle.
3. A motorcycle first registered in New Zealand on or after 1 January 1978 is fitted with more than:
a) two pairs of lamps to the front, or
b) two pairs of lamps to the rear, or
c) two side-facing lamps on each side of the motorcycle.
4. A motorcycle is fitted with a lamp that is not in a pair.
5. A motorcycle is not fitted with a suitable device that indicates to the driver that a lamp has failed.
6. A retrofitted lamp:
a) is not symmetrically mounted, or
b) is not mounted as far towards each side of the motorcycle as is practicable, or
c) is fitted at a height from the ground exceeding 1.5m (or 2.1m where fitting below 1.5 m is not practicable due to the shape of the bodywork of the motorcycle).
7. A motorcycle (eg a vintage or veteran motorcycle) does not meet standard direction indicator lamp requirements, and:
a) does not have a valid vehicle identity card with a lighting equipment endorsement, or
b) does not meet the conditions of the lighting equipment endorsement in its vehicle identity card.
Condition
8. A lamp is insecure or, if a mandatory lamp, contains moisture in the form of large droplets, runs or puddles.
9. A lens is missing, or has a hole, crack or other damage that allows moisture or dirt to enter.
10. A lamp’s reflector is damaged or has deteriorated so that light output is reduced.
11. A visual lamp failure warning device is obscured from the driver’s vision.
Performance
12. When switched on, a direction indicator lamp:
a) does not operate, or
b) does not begin flashing within one second of switching on, or
c) flashes:
i. faster than two flashes per second, or
ii. slower than one flash per second, or
iii at a different rate from other lamps on the same side.
13. When switched on, a direction indicator lamp emits a light that is:
a) not substantially white or amber to the front, or
b) not substantially amber or red to the rear, or
c) not substantially amber to the side, or
d) not approximately equal in colour or intensity from the other lamp in a pair, or
e) not bright enough to be visible from 100m in normal daylight and from 200m in normal darkness, eg due to modification, deterioration, dirt or an incorrect light source, or
f) too bright, causing significant dazzle to other road users, eg due to an incorrect light source, or
g) altered, eg due to damage or modification.
14. A mandatory lamp that is not OE and not mounted in the original position emits a light that is not visible within:
a) 15˚ above and below the horizontal, or
b) 45˚ inboard and 80˚ outboard.
15. A mandatory lamp’s visibility angles are reduced due to modification of the motorcycle so that emitted light is not visible within:
a) 15˚ above and below the horizontal (Figure 4-5-1), or
b) 45˚ inboard and 80˚ outboard (Figure 4-5-2).
16. An overlay has been applied that reduces or distorts the light emitted from the lamp (eg a tinted cover).
17. On a motorcycle manufactured for the American market and fitted with an OE combined stop/indicator lamp, the stop lamp function is not overridden by the indicator function.
18. Where a lamp comprises an array of light sources (eg LEDs), fewer than 75% of these operate.
19. A lamp-failure warning device does not operate.
Note 1 Definitions
Direction indicator lamp means a lamp designed to emit a flashing light to signal the intention of the driver to change the direction of the vehicle to the right or to the left.
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.
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 are considered retrofitted (non-OE).
Note 2
A permitted (ie non-mandatory) rear or a non-OE side-facing direction indicator lamp that does not comply with equipment, condition and performance requirements must be made to comply or disabled so that it does not emit a light.
Note 3
A vehicle originally manufactured with a direction indicator lamp arrangement that differs from what is required or permitted in this section may retain the original direction indicator lamps provided they remain fitted in their original position and perform as intended by the vehicle manufacturer.
Note 4
Motorcycles first registered in New Zealand before 27 February 2005 may have rear direction indicator lamps that also function as reversing lamps.
Note 5
A forward-facing permitted lamp that does not comply with the equipment, condition and performance requirements must be made to comply or be removed from the vehicle.
Table 4-5-1. Motorcycles exempted from direction indicator lamp requirements
Bajaj Super 150 Bultaco Sherpa T250 Bultaco Sherpa T350 Bultaco Frontera 250 Bultaco Frontera 370 DKW 125 Enduro Gemini MA 50 Honda NC50 Express Honda XR185 Enduro Honda XR200 Enduro | Honda XR250 Enduro Honda XR500 Enduro Kawasaki KLX 250 Enduro Kawasaki KV75 Kawasaki KT250 Mini Buffalo Montesa 250H6 Montesa 360H6 Montesa 247T Montesa 247 | Montesa 348 Suzuki DS80 Suzuki DR 370 Suzuki DR400 Suzuki PE 175 Suzuki PE 250 Suzuki RL 250 Suzuki TF 100 Suzuki TF 125 Suzuki TF 185 | Yamaha IT175 Yamaha IT400 Yamaha Trials TY175 Yamaha Trials TY250 Yamaha TT250 Yamaha TT500 Enduro Zundapp K 550 |
Figure 4-5-1. Direction indicator vertical beam angles
Figure 4-5-2. Direction indicator horizontal beam angles
Summary of legislation
Applicable legislation
Mandatory and permitted equipment
1. A motorcycle first registered in New Zealand before 1 January 1978 may be fitted with one pair to the front and one pair to the rear of the vehicle.
2. A motorcycle first registered in New Zealand on or after 1 January 1978 must be fitted with one or two pairs of lamps to the front and one or two pairs of lamps to the rear of the vehicle.
3. A retrofitted pair of lamps must be:
a) symmetrically mounted as far towards each side of the motorcycle as is practicable, and
b) at a height from the ground not exceeding 1.5m, or if this is not practicable due to the shape of the bodywork, not exceeding 2.1m.
4. A suitable device must be fitted that indicates to the driver the failure of a mandatory lamp.
5. A motorcycle (eg a vintage or veteran motorcycle) manufactured without lamps, or with lamps that cannot meet specified requirements, may obtain a WoF if:
a) the motorcycle has a valid vehicle identity card with a lighting equipment endorsement, and
b) the motorcycle meets the conditions of that endorsement.
6. On motorcycles of American origin, the stop lamp and direction indicator lamp functions may be combined in one lamp.
Condition
7. A direction indicator lamp must:
a) be in sound condition, and
b) not be obscured (if a mandatory lamp).
Performance
8. A direction indicator lamp must operate in a way that is appropriate for the lamp and the vehicle.
9. A direction indicator lamp must emit a light that is substantially:
a) white or amber to the front, and
b) red or amber to the rear, and
c) amber to the side.
10. A lamp must flash at a fixed frequency in the range of 1–2 Hertz.
11. Each lamp in a pair must, when operated, emit a light of approximately equal intensity, colour and frequency.
12. The lamp-failure indicating device must function.
13. A lamp must emit a light that is visible from 100 m during normal daylight and 200 m in normal darkness.
14. A retrofitted mandatory lamp must emit a light that is visible within angles of:
a) 15˚ above and below the horizontal, and
b) 45˚ inboard, and
c) 80˚ outboard.
15. If a motorcycle of American origin is fitted with combined stop and indicator lamps, the indicator lamps must override the stop lamps so that the stop lamps operate as direction indicators.
16. Where a lamp comprises an array of light sources (eg LEDs), at least 75% of these must operate.
Modifications
17. A direction indicator lamp that is affected by a modification must meet equipment, condition and performance requirements.
Page amended 2 December 2019 (see amendment details).
Page updated 18 July 2023 (see details).