From: Conor on
In article <4b2696c8.87535500(a)news.x-privat.org>, Dermit Goldstein
says...
>
> On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:35:03 -0000, Conor <conor(a)gmx.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >In article <4b268dbd.85219562(a)news.x-privat.org>, Dermit Goldstein
> >says...
> >>
> >> What exactly are the rules in regard to lights? Quite often you see
> >> London taxis (particularly the older ones) driving around using only
> >> 10W (?) sidelights.
> >
> >Basically you can in a streetlit 30MPH area.
>
> I wonder why more people don't?
>
Personally I think its fuckwitted. The sidelights on my Mondeo are
nothing like they used to be on old cars. Two very small bulbs in a unit
around an inch and a half in diameter.

In the event of an accident, I don't want an insurer deciding I was at
fault for not using sufficient lighting.

--
Conor
www.notebooks-r-us.co.uk

I'm not prejudiced. I hate everybody equally.
From: Chris Bartram on
Dermit Goldstein wrote:
> On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:35:03 -0000, Conor <conor(a)gmx.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> In article <4b268dbd.85219562(a)news.x-privat.org>, Dermit Goldstein
>> says...
>>> What exactly are the rules in regard to lights? Quite often you see
>>> London taxis (particularly the older ones) driving around using only
>>> 10W (?) sidelights.
>> Basically you can in a streetlit 30MPH area.
>
> I wonder why more people don't?
>
Plenty enough idiots do.
From: FrengaX on
On Dec 15, 7:43 am, Dr Zoidberg <AlexNOOO!!!...@drzoidberg.co.uk>
wrote:
> Dermit Goldstein wrote:
> > What exactly are the rules in regard to lights?  Quite often you see
> > London taxis (particularly the older ones) driving around using only
> > 10W (?) sidelights.  
>
> Perfectly legal in built up areas with a 30mph limit.

I think you need to add the qualification of a street-lit built-up
30mph zone.
Is it 30 zones only?

Whatver it is, I believe it's foolish not to use headlights. With all
the other light sources around, it's easy to "lose" a car with only
sidelights in the plethora of other stuff.
From: Dermit Goldstein on
On Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:44:41 -0000, Conor <conor(a)gmx.co.uk> wrote:

>In article <4b2696c8.87535500(a)news.x-privat.org>, Dermit Goldstein
>says...
>>
>> On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:35:03 -0000, Conor <conor(a)gmx.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>> >In article <4b268dbd.85219562(a)news.x-privat.org>, Dermit Goldstein
>> >says...
>> >>
>> >> What exactly are the rules in regard to lights? Quite often you see
>> >> London taxis (particularly the older ones) driving around using only
>> >> 10W (?) sidelights.
>> >
>> >Basically you can in a streetlit 30MPH area.
>>
>> I wonder why more people don't?
>>
>Personally I think its fuckwitted. The sidelights on my Mondeo are
>nothing like they used to be on old cars. Two very small bulbs in a unit
>around an inch and a half in diameter.

I used to have a car with a dim-dip lights option...I think it was 6V
on each headlight. There was no switch to run on sidelights alone.

>In the event of an accident, I don't want an insurer deciding I was at
>fault for not using sufficient lighting.

If they did, the law would be on your side.


From: JNugent on
Dermit Goldstein wrote:

> What exactly are the rules in regard to lights? Quite often you see
> London taxis (particularly the older ones) driving around using only
> 10W (?) sidelights.

If they could never be used, there'd be no legal requirement to fit them
(though they can also be used to mark a parked vehicle).

Yes, it's lawful to drive on sidelights-only when there is adequate
street-lighting. If the street-lighting is "inadequate" (largely a matter of
opinion, I guess), then headlights must be used (failure being an offence,
presumably under the Construction & Use Regs).

I never drive on sidelights. If it's dark enough to require lights at all, I
take the view that headlights are required.

I think sidelights and tail-lights are rated at 15w or thereabous.