anyone know the laws

[rugbyken]

after i fitted my box to the rear a major concern was lighting i fitted a trailer connector simply to make it removable when i offered it up to the bottom of the runner it was immediately obvious that it would be vulnerable there i checked various scources and confirmed that visible from 5 meters away was the essential rule , i have seen overhangs under lorries etc where the light clusters are not on rear of veh so happy that mine are less than 500 from rear and easily visible but have just been told that my triangular reflectors must only be used on a trailer? i can easily remove them and have round one on all four corners of the box but is this really an issue???

 

[mistericeman]

Whilst legally triangles are reserved for trailed units .....shape isnt part of the mot check,only that reflectors are present and in good order

https://www.mot-testing.service.gov...ors-and-electrical-equipment.html#section_4.8

I suspect it's unlikely that anyone other than a VOSA officer thats having a very bad day would give you any trouble for having incorrect reflectors fitted .

I'd say it depends how bothered YOU are really ....

 

[rayc]

after i fitted my box to the rear a major concern was lighting i fitted a trailer connector simply to make it removable when i offered it up to the bottom of the runner it was immediately obvious that it would be vulnerable there i checked various scources and confirmed that visible from 5 meters away was the essential rule , i have seen overhangs under lorries etc where the light clusters are not on rear of veh so happy that mine are less than 500 from rear and easily visible but have just been told that my triangular reflectors must only be used on a trailer? i can easily remove them and have round one on all four corners of the box but is this really an issue???

I had triangular reflectors on the trailer board I used when using a bike rack on my car. I never encountered any problems from the authorities.

 

[Obanboy666]

I carry a Solent box on a Bak Rak fitted to the towbar on my pvc.
Didn’t fit electrics when I fitted the towbar as the box I carry doesn’t obscure the van lights or number plate. I fitted 2 triangular reflectors to the box and in the year I have had the box I have been in front of both Vosa and police vehicles and neither have pulled me over.

 

[Full Member]

I had triangular reflectors on the trailer board I used when using a bike rack on my car. I never encountered any problems from the authorities.

+ one.

Colin

 

[mistericeman]

I suspect your average 'authorities' are usually impressed if you've got fully working lights and correct reg number to be bothered about shapes of reflectors....
Certainly going off the bulk of trailers I spot on my daily commute up and down the glorious M6 ;-)

 

[snapster]

We had triangular reflectors on the back of the large Fiamma box fitted to the back of our old Swift. It passed its MOT last June with no comments about the reflectors.

 

[hairydog]

The law says you have to have triangle reflectors on a trailer. The law does not say you mustn't put them on things that are not trailers.
[later]I was wrong. See post #12

 

[mr brown]

gendarmes and other cops might disagree. get rid and put rectangles on for the sake of a couple of quid.

 

[hairydog]

gendarmes and other cops might disagree. get rid and put rectangles on for the sake of a couple of quid.

I'd not worry about that, but I'd prefer not to look like I don't know what triangles mean.
If you must fit them onto a non-trailer, put them on sideways or upside down.

 

[The laird]

Triangle reflectors signifies a trailer use red reflective tape
I can send you proper item if you want pm me

 

[Tezza33]

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/18/made
if you scroll down to section 8 it states

8. Other requirements–
(a) Except in the case of a motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986, any other vehicle manufactured before 1st October 1985 and a motor bicycle combination, where two rear reflectors are required to be fitted they shall form a pair. Where four rear reflectors are required to be fitted they shall form two pairs.
(b) No vehicle, other than a trailer or a broken-down motor vehicle being towed, may be fitted with triangular-shaped rear reflectors.
(c) A rear reflector shall not be fitted on a boot lid or other movable part of the vehicle.

When I tow my Fiat Panda I put two triangles on the boot lid, I bonded strong magnets on the back so that they are easy to fit and remove but technically they should not be fitted on there but it is the only metal part on the rear, my previous tow car I had them mounted permanently and nobody took any notice

I don't have any reflectors or lights on the back box on my van but the numberplate and lights are not obstructed

 

[RV2MAX]

If you get stopped (unlikely) by DVSA ( new name for VOSA) for something else they may well advise you re Triangle reflectors fitted to non trailers ,, same as rear marker boards fitted to below 7.5 tonne . It is however very unlikely that they would take it any further .

 

[wildebus]

The way I look at it is if you know there is something about your setup that could cause you to get pulled over and could easily be rectified in minutes and for pennies, why not just bloody well sort it, as our Aussie friends would say.
I know some people love taking on 'the man' and arguing their "rights" (see these idiot "Freemen" with their 'right to travel' for example) but why bother over such a trivial matter

 

[mr brown]

the reason i suggest complying with the law is not because i'm a nervous nellie, but i would worry about foreign coppers if i was to go abroad. which a lot of m/homes seem to do .
not adhering to a silly law is their bread and butter, maybe 100 euros a hit . i know , peanuts. but i put my advice out there anyway.

 

[Tezza33]

the reason i suggest complying with the law is not because i'm a nervous nellie, but i would worry about foreign coppers if i was to go abroad. which a lot of m/homes seem to do .
not adhering to a silly law is their bread and butter, maybe 100 euros a hit . i know , peanuts. but i put my advice out there anyway.

I agree, why give them something to pull you up for when they can find something else if they do

 

[chas142]

Now I have one of the square type MH bike reflectors boards screwed to the rear panel of MH. MOT guy said he didn't like that silly thing there, I just assumed he didn't like it, not that perhaps it shouldn't be there. I have never removed it and have bikes in a garage. I am not sure what the law is on that and what countries you need that board in, not in the UK.

 

[rugbyken]

with thanks to everyone who dug out the relavant information i have removed the two triangles i had already fitted the four round ones off an old long load board on each corner of the box and a strip along the bottom edge so no worry about not being seen just didn’t want shunting lol

 

[RV2MAX]

Now I have one of the square type MH bike reflectors boards screwed to the rear panel of MH. MOT guy said he didn't like that silly thing there, I just assumed he didn't like it, not that perhaps it shouldn't be there. I have never removed it and have bikes in a garage. I am not sure what the law is on that and what countries you need that board in, not in the UK.

There is no UK legal requirement to not display the chevron marker on rear of UK vehicle , unless it is type with retroflective white portion , as under RVLR 88 retroflective material is classed as a light of the same colour , and you are not allowed to show a white light to rear (in most circumstances) . In Europe , Italy and Spain are the two main countries for the rear marker requirement for any overhang . HTSH

 

[chas142]

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/18/made
if you scroll down to section 8 it states

8. Other requirements–
(a) Except in the case of a motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986, any other vehicle manufactured before 1st October 1985 and a motor bicycle combination, where two rear reflectors are required to be fitted they shall form a pair. Where four rear reflectors are required to be fitted they shall form two pairs.
(b) No vehicle, other than a trailer or a broken-down motor vehicle being towed, may be fitted with triangular-shaped rear reflectors.
(c) A rear reflector shall not be fitted on a boot lid or other movable part of the vehicle.

When I tow my Fiat Panda I put two triangles on the boot lid, I bonded strong magnets on the back so that they are easy to fit and remove but technically they should not be fitted on there but it is the only metal part on the rear, my previous tow car I had them mounted permanently and nobody took any notice

I don't have any reflectors or lights on the back box on my van but the numberplate and lights are not obstructed

I think when you say boot lid you mean tailgate, but the same applies, I wondered if it differed, it doesn't, must be visible when open! So would the same apply if a trailer board was fitted to the tailgate, I sure someone here will answer.