Vehicle Lighting Laws & Regulations • Documents & Links

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-Virgil-

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This thread serves as a repository for official documents and links to regulations, laws, and other (closely) related documents having to do with vehicle lighting. It is a closed thread for reference only; discussion of any content housed here will take place on other threads. If you wish to submit a document or link, send a PM to a moderator (Alaric Darconville or -Virgil-) and it will be handled.
 
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-Virgil-

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International • UN (ECE)

UN Regulations (formerly known as "ECE Regulations", "European Regulations", or informally as the "E-code")

R.E.5: Light Source Specifications (supersedes UN Regulations 37, 99, and 128 -- contains specs for all regulated automotive light sources; spec sheets start on page 14)
 
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-Virgil-

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North America

US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108
This is the Federal regulation that governs all lamps and reflective devices on motor vehicles in the USA

Current version
FMVSS 108 full text including laboratory test procedures (Current version)

Old versions
FMVSS 108 full text, rewrite (PDF, final rule with explanations, 2011)

FMVSS 108 full text, pre-rewrite (PDF)

Other related regulations

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Standard No. 108 (applies to commercial truck & bus industry—contents & requirements largely but not completely identical to FMVSS 108)

49 CFR 564 / NHTSA-1998-3397: Replaceable Light Source Information (This is the compendium of headlight bulb and ballast types approved for use in headlamps in the USA, and their specifications)

US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966
(This is the Act that eventually established the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and its authority to write and enforce the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards). Originally located at 15 USC 1394-1410, it has been reorganized and is now located at 49 USC 301. Old to new location conversion of various subsections is here.

Sections most frequently relevant to discussions on this forum include:

• Old USC 1397(a)(2) = new 49 USC 30122: Prohibits regulated parties to "render inoperative" a mandatory regulated device, system, or design feature; "render inoperative" can mean to remove, disable, damage, destroy, or alter the performance so it is no longer compliant.

• Old USC 1397(a)(1)(A) = new 49 USC 30112(a): Prohibits the manufacture, importation, introduction into interstate commerce, offer, or sale of vehicles or items of regulated vehicle equipment not compliant with all applicable provisions of all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

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Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108
This is the Canadian national regulation that governs all lamps and reflective devices on motor vehicles.

• The most recent version of CMVSS 108 is on this page

• Technical Standards Documant 108 contains technical prescriptions, figures, tables, and test procedures and protocols referred to in CMVSS 108 (virtually all of which are also applicable to US FMVSS 108, making this a convenient accessory document for both standards). The most recent version of TSD 108 is Version 7. (PDF)

• Old version of CMVSS 108 is here.

• Previously, a separate regulation called CMVSS 108.1 covered UN ("European") headlamps permitted on vehicles in Canada as an alternative to the US headlamps specified in CMVSS 108. The provisions formerly in CMVSS 108.1 are now in CMVSS 108.

• Old version of TSD 108 is here (pdf)

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Interpretive & explanatory materials
These materials explain or clarify the meaning and applicability of various regulations.

• Pulse/flash/blink devices for center brake lights are illegal, and so are devices that flash the left and right brake lights before they come on steadily (specific to USA, but same regulatory provisions exist in Canada)

• There is no such thing as DOT Approval. NHTSA is the DOT agency in charge of setting and enforcing vehicle and equipment safety standards, but they have no authority to approve or disapprove motor vehicles or equipment.

Headlamp usage laws

US State & Canada Provincial Headlamp Usage Laws
 

-Virgil-

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Europe (specific countries)

Norway

Regulations concerning technical requirements and approval of vehicles, parts and equipment (vehicle regulations) Chapter 28: lamps, light signals, reflex reflectors.
English translationNorwegian original
 
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-Virgil-

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Australia & New Zealand

Australian Design Rules
These are the Australian national legal requirements that govern the design, construction, and safety and emissions performance of vehicles and components, including lights and reflectors.

Australian Design Rules, 3rd Edition

Western Australia
LED Light Bar Fitment and Installation (PDF, August 2015)

Fitment and Use of Additional and Optional Vehicle Lights (Lamps) (PDF, August 2017)


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New Zealand
New Zealand's laws call for vehicle lighting components and systems complying with selected provisions of various technical standards originating outside New Zealand.

Vehicle Lighting 2004 is the New Zealand legislation covering vehicle lighting systems and devices. Linked page provides access to the rule and amendments.

Vehicle requirements are listed by vehicle class, build date, and type of component or system (link is for passenger vehicles; other types of vehicles can be looked up here).

Lighting standards incorporated by reference include those from Australia, the UN ("European" standards), Japan, and the US.
 
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-Virgil-

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Asia

Malaysia
Official Portal of Road Transport Department Malaysia (Mostly in Malay; a more direct link to the laws itself will be added shortly)
Malaysia is a UNECE signatory and in 2017 will enforce 11 UNECE regulations previously unenforced

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-Virgil-

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Central and South America

Brazil
Resolução 227 ("Resolution #227", February 2007: requirements for vehicle lighting and signalling systems -- in Portuguese)

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Panamá
Decreto Ejecutivo 640 ("Executive Decree 640"). See page 18 for Capitulo IV: Del sistema de iluminación vehicular ("Chapter IV: Vehicle lighting systems"). In Spanish.
 
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-Virgil-

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Other Regions

Links related to countries not covered by any other section of this thread go here.
 

Alaric Darconville

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Regulatory Analysis

This document and this Driving Vision News article compare various aspects of the US and European/international vehicle lighting standards in terms of their mutual compatibility in the context of free-trade agreements: headlamp performance, turn signal intensity and color, presence and absence (respectively) of side marker lights and reflectors, and more.
 
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