Invitation for Comments on the Proposed Lighting Regulations To

Invitation for Comments on the Proposed Lighting Regulations

To : Vehicle Manufacturers and Motor traders

Road traffic legislation is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is able to meet present-day requirements. Due to rapid changes in automotive lighting technology in recent years, the gap between the existing regulations on lighting, reflectors, marking and signal devices on vehicles and international standard has been widening. There is a need to bring our relevant provisions up-to-date.

The construction and maintenance requirements of lighting devices on motor vehicles and trailers are currently set out in regulations 89 to 120 and Schedule 7 to 11 of the Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations, Cap. 374A. These regulations were enacted to ensure sufficient illumination for motorists to have clear sight of the road ahead and to enhance their conspicuousness to other road users, especially during the night time or in poor visibility conditions. Nowadays, the international standards relating to lighting devices on vehicle have been updated and changed substantially, with emphasis on enhanced intelligent lighting features. New light sources (eg. HID and LED) are now commonly used in the market besides conventional filament lamps. Adaptive front lighting and brake lighting systems have also been adopted on many new vehicles.

In light of the above, we would update the whole section of the relevant lighting regulations in Cap. 374A by requiring new vehicles to be equipped with appropriate lighting devices in accordance with the international standards. Major amendments include the following –

(i) harmonize the construction and maintenance requirements of lighting devices in line with international standards, and set out in new Schedules.

(ii) accept energy-efficient and advanced lighting technologies (eg. HID, LED, AFS and other types of lamps, retro-reflectors and markings, etc.)

(iii) control the installation of both obligatory or optional devices (eg. movement, steadiness, intensity, colour, etc.)

(iv) allow the use of lighting devices to improve the visibility of particular vehicles on road (eg. broken down or stationary vehicles, etc.)

(v) re-organise the presentation of the lighting legislations in a more user-oriented approach by making reference to overseas practices.

Please find enclosed the outlines of the new lighting regulations for your information. At the end of the below outline, there is a list of complying standards of lamps, etc. which we intend to maintain to provide a quick reference to vehicle importers and vehicle approval applicants to give an indication of which standards will be accepted by the Transport Department as meeting the requirements.

The proposed lighting regulations will apply to both new vehicles from dealers and parallel import vehicles. The procedures for type approval or vehicle examination in relation to the lighting devices will be similar to the existing practices, and relevant documentation will be requested when necessary.

We should be grateful to have your views and comment in writing to us not later than 1519 May 2013. Please feel free to contact us if you have any enquiry.

Vehicle Safety and Standards Division Transport Department

April 2013

ProposedProposed LightingLighting RegulationsRegulations

DRAFT

(for reference and inviting comments)

Structure of Proposed Lighting Regulations

Schedule 7 (Part 1-5 covering all types of vehicles) Part VII of C&M Regulations Schedule 7 (Part 1-5 covering all types of vehicles) Type Sch. Exempted vehicle Prohibited vehicle Interpretation Type Sch. Exempted vehicle Prohibited vehicle Dipped 8 motor vehicle not Trailer Dipped 8 motor vehicle not Trailer Beam HL exceeding 10km/h Beam HL exceeding 10km/h Obligatory / Lamps, etc. specified in Schedule 7 optional / Lamps, etc. specified in Schedule 7AA Schedule 7AA Optional Lamps prohibited & Installation & Performance Requirements Schedule 7AA Optional Lamps Approval Examination by Commissioner List out the optional and prohibited lamps, etc. requirements. Commissioner’s approval List out the optional and prohibited lamps, etc.

Schedule 7C Visibility of light Multi-purpose lamps / reflectors Schedule 7C Visibility of light Counting of lamps & retro-reflectors Define what is “visible”. Permission required for modification Define what is “visible”. Colour of light shown by lamps Restriction on nature of light Schedule 8V (rear marking) Construction Light sources of lamps Schedule 8V (rear marking) and Schedule 8TPart 1 (RearPre-2014 reflector) Requirement Lamps to show steady light Schedule 8TPart 1 (RearPre-2014 reflector) Requirement maintenance ….. (existing C&M requirements) … requirements Restriction of movement ….. (existing C&M requirements) … SchedulePart 8J1 Pre-2014(Stop Lamp) Requirement SchedulePart 8J1 Pre-2014(Stop Lamp) Requirement Intensity of lamps ….. (existingPart C&M 2 requirements)Post-2014 Requirement … ….. (existingPart C&M 2 requirements)Post-2014 Requirement … Lamps & retro-reflectors in a pair Schedule 8 Part(Headlamp) 1 Pre-2014Number, Requirement Position, Orientation, Schedule 8 Part(Headlamp) 1 Pre-2014Number, Requirement Position, Orientation, Lamps & retro-reflectors not in a pair ….. (existingPart 2 C&MPost-2014Geometric requirements) Requirement Visibility, … Others ….. (existingPart 2 C&MPost-2014Geometric requirements) Requirement Visibility, … Others Part 1 Pre-2014 RequirementNumber, Position, Orientation, Electrical connection Part 1 Pre-2014 RequirementNumber, Position, Orientation, ….. (existing C&MPart requirements) 2GeometricPost-2014 Visibility, … Requirement Others Construction & Maintenance Reqt. ….. (existing C&MPart requirements) 2GeometricPost-2014 Visibility, … Requirement Others Number, Position, Orientation, Part 2 Post-2014Number, Requirement Position, Orientation, Part 2 Post-2014Geometric Requirement Visibility, Others Work lamps Number, Position,Geometric Orientation, Visibility, Others Number, Position, Orientation, Advance Warning Triangle Geometric Visibility, Others Scenario Geometric Visibility, Others related Warning lamps and similar lamps requirements Retro-reflector for bicycles and tricycles Obligatory lamps, etc. obscured TD Notice Complying standards Special provisions for towing of vehicle Page 2 89. Interpretations

• With reference to the ECE Regulations, new interpretations have been added.

• An unlit lamp other than a warning lamp, or a retro- reflector or reflective marking, is not treated as being fitted if the lamp, retro-reflector or reflective marking is— – (a) painted over or masked with opaque material permanently so that no light can be shown; or – (b) (in the case of a lamp) not provided with any system of wiring by means of which the lamp is, or can be, connected with a source of electricity.

Page 3

89AC. Lamps, etc. specified in Schedule 7 as obligatory, optional or prohibited

• OBLIGATORY : A vehicle of a type described in the heading to Part 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 of Schedule 7 must be fitted with the lamps, retro-reflectors, reflective markings and signal devices specified in column 2 of the Part.

• OPTIONAL : A vehicle specified in column 4 of the Part as an exempted vehicle is not required to, but may, be fitted with the lamp, retro-reflector, reflective marking or signal device.

• PROHIBITED : A vehicle specified in column 5 of the Part as a prohibited vehicle must not be fitted with the lamp, retro-reflector, reflective marking or signal device.

• This regulation does not apply to a pedestrian-controlled vehicle or a fork-lift truck.

Page 4 89AE. Lamps, etc. specified in Schedule 7AA as optional or prohibited

• OPTIONAL : A vehicle specified in column 3 of the Table in Schedule 7AA as an allowed vehicle may be fitted with the lamp, retro-reflector, reflective marking or signal device specified in column 2 of the Table opposite the vehicle.

• PROHIBITED : A vehicle specified in column 3A of the Table under Schedule 7AA as a prohibited vehicle must not be fitted with the lamp, retro-reflector, reflective marking or signal device specified in column 2 of the Table opposite the type of the vehicle.

• For public interest, the Commissioner may require a vehicle to fit with an optional lamp, retro-reflector, reflective marking or signal device specified in this Regulations.

Page 5

89AEA. Installation and Performance requirements for lamps under regulation 89AC and 89AE

• Any lamp, retro-reflector, reflective marking or signal device that is fitted to a vehicle under regulation 89AC or 89AE must comply with the installation and performance requirements.

• A vehicle concerned is not an invalid carriage and is first registered on or after [DD MM 2014], follow “Post-2014 Requirements” in Schedule 8-8X • A vehicle concerned is first registered before [DD MM 2014] or an invalid carriage, follow “Pre / Post-2014 requirements” in Schedule 8-8X

• On the first registration of a vehicle on or after [DD MM 2014], the Commissioner may require a vehicle to be examined, and signify the compliance in writing. • The Commissioner may require production of any documents as proof of compliance.

Page 6 89AF. Multi-purpose lamps and retro-reflector

• A lamp fitted to the vehicle may serve as more than one type of the lamps or combined with a retro- reflector.

• No stop lamp and a direction indicator may be in common.

Page 7

89AG. Counting of lamps and retro-reflector

• In this Part, except in the case of a dipped beam headlamp, main beam headlamp or a front fog lamp, any combination of two or more lamps or retro-reflectors, whether identical or not, having the same functions and showing light of the same colour, is treated as one lamp or retro-reflector if any of the following conditions is met.

– (a) the aggregate apparent surfaces of the lamps (in the direction of the axis of reference) or the retro-reflectors (in the direction perpendicular to the plane tangentially touching the centre of the retro-reflector) occupy 60% or more of the area of the smallest quadrilateral circumscribing those apparent surfaces; or

– (b) the distance between the adjacent lamps (when measured perpendicular to the axis of reference) or retro-reflectors (when measured perpendicular to the plane tangentially touching the centre of the retro-reflectors) does not exceed 15 mm.

Page 8 90. Permission required for certain lamps on vehicles first registered after 2014

• Except obtaining prior approval from the Commissioner, no person may alter the headlamp, front position lamp, front fog lamp, rear fog lamp and daytime running lamp, in the respect of – – increasing the number of lamps with gas-discharge light source; – Changing any light source to gas-discharge light source.

• The Commissioner may request to inspect the vehicle before or after the alteration.

Page 9

91. Colour of light

• Colour of the light must be as follows.

Main beam headlamp White or yellow (before 2014) White (after 2014) Dipped beam headlamp White or yellow (before 2014) White (after 2014) Front position lamp White or amber (for motorcycle only) Front fog lamp White or selective yellow Direction indicator According to Part 1 of Sch. C (before 2014) Amber (after 2014) Front corner marker lamp White Daytime running lamp White Side marker lamp Front : white; Rear : red (before 2014) Rearmost : amber/red; Other sides : amber (after 2014) Exterior supplementary lamp White Rear position lamp red Stop lamp Red Reversing lamp White Rear registration plate lamp White

Page 10 91. Colour of light

• Colour of the light must be as follows.

Rear fog lamp Red End-outline marker lamp Front : white; Rear : red Parking lamp Front : white ; Rear : red ; Side : amber Cornering lamp White Warning lamp Blue , red or amber Work lamp White Front retro-reflector White or colourless Side retro-reflector Rearmost : amber/red ; Other sides : amber Rear retro-reflector red Rear marking (for heavy or long vehicle) As shown in diagrams in Schedule 8V Rear marking (for slow moving vehicle) As shown in diagram in Schedule 8W Contour marking Front : white ; Rear : yellow/white ; Other sides : yellow / white Mainland marking Red alternate with white

Page 11

91AA. Restriction on nature of light shown from vehicles

• No red light may be shown from a lamp, retro-reflector or reflective marking of a vehicle to the front, unless– – required under regulation 91; – for illuminating a taximeter; – for the purpose of road work or tunnel work – from a route number sign or destination indicator required by the laws – from a retro-reflector or reflective marking required by the laws of Hong Kong – from a lamp or retro-reflector of a bicycle or tricycle.

• No light other than red light may be shown from a lamp, retro-reflector or reflective marking of a vehicle to the rear, unless– – required under regulation 91; – for illuminating the interior of a vehicle; – from a telltale device; – for illuminating the fare dial of a taximeter; – from a taxi illuminated sign; – for the purpose of road work or tunnel work – from a route number sign or destination indicator required by the laws – from a retro-reflector or reflective marking required by the laws – from a lamp or retro-reflector of a bicycle or tricycle

Page 12 91AA. Restriction on nature of light shown from vehicles

• Except for road marking or traffic sign attached to vehicle for the purpose of road work or tunnel work, no vehicle may carry lamps showing light to rear to convey any text or pictorial representation.

• Except a warning lamp and for illuminating the interior of a vehicle, no vehicle may be fitted with any lamp showing light of any colour other than white, yellow, amber or red.

Page 13

91A. Light source of lamps

• A lamp must only be illuminated by means of an electricity powered light source of visible radiation.

• Filament and gas-discharge light source indelibly marked with rated wattage; LED light source must also marked with rated voltage.

Page 14 91B. Lamps to show steady light

• A lamp must show only steady light but not any flashing or swiveling light

• Except - – a direction indicator; – a warning lamp; – lamps attached to, or placed on, a vehicle for the purpose of road work or tunnel work; – a stop lamp; – a headlamp for an ambulance; and – a lamp of a bicycle, tricycle or a rickshaw.

Page 15

94AA. Restriction of movement of lamp and retro-reflector

• No vehicle, and no load or equipment of a vehicle, may be fitted with a lamp or retro-reflector that is capable of being moved by swivelling, deflecting or otherwise while the vehicle is in motion.

• Except - – headlamp – a lamp or retro-reflector that can be deflected for the purpose of steering the vehicle; – retracted or concealed lamp; and – any lamp or retro-reflector fitted on the movable portion of a vehicle. – a retro-reflector of a bicycle or tricycle

Page 16 94AB. Intensity of lamp

• Light intensity of a rear direction indicator, rear position lamp, stop lamp or rear fog lamp may varied in response to ambient light, fog, snowfall, rain, spray, dust clouds, contamination of light emitting surface.

• A lamp fitted to a motor vehicle or trailer must be so constructed with adequate intensity such that the light shown from the lamp— – is clearly visible at a reasonable distance in clear weather – does not cause undue dazzle or discomfort to oncoming traffic or other road users

Page 17

94AC/D. Lamps & retro-reflector in a pair / not in a pair

• Every two lamps or retro-reflectors fitted to a vehicle (excluding a sidecar attached to a motor cycle) and having the same function must be in a pair, except – a warning lamp; – an advance warning triangle; – a work lamp; and – a headlamp fitted with an adaptive front lighting system

• A lamp or retro-reflector not in a pair must be mounted on the centre line or on the off side of the vehicle.

• A main beam headlamp is fitted alongside a dipped beam headlamp on a motor cycle or a motor tricycle

Page 18 94AE. Electrical connections

• A vehicle must be so constructed that — – lamps in a pair can only be switched on and off simultaneously, except direction indicator – the wiring of the lamps of the same type required to show light simultaneously must be so arranged that the failure of any of the lamps would not affect the functioning of the remaining lamps; – the wiring of a lamp with multiple light sources for the same function must be so arranged that the failure of any of the light sources would not affect the functioning of the remaining light sources ; – all main beam headlamps of a vehicle must be switched off when the vehicle changes over from emitting main beams to emitting dipped beams; – the rear fog lamp can only be switched on if any of the main beam headlamps, dipped beam headlamps or front fog lamps is also lit; – no lamp other than a stop lamp may be illuminated on application of a brake or retarder; – front fog lamps to be switched on and off independently of the main beam headlamps, dipped beam headlamps or any combination of the main and dipped beam headlamps

Page 19

94AE. Electrical connections

• A vehicle must be so constructed that — – a circuit-closed tell-tale must be provided to every circuit of a main beam headlamp, front fog lamp, rear fog lamp, hazard warning signal device, work lamp, warning lamp and an AFS must be fitted with a circuit-closed tell-tale; – the circuit-closed tell-tale for an AFS must be of visual nature and non-flashing; – an operating tell-tale must be provided to every circuit of the direction indicators; – an operating tell-tale must be provided to the circuit of a dipped beam headlamp for indicating failure of the production of dipped beam; and • A circuit-closed tell-tale required to be fitted under these regulations can be replaced by an operating tell-tale. • A vehicle may be so constructed that the dipped beam headlamps can remain switched on while the main beam headlamp is switched on

Page 20 94AE. Electrical connections

• A motor vehicle first registered on or after [DD MM 2014] must be so constructed that— – Front position lamp, rear position lamp, end-outline marker lamp, side marker lamp and rear registration plate lamp be simultaneously switched on or off by the operation of one switch – Main/dipped beam headlamp or front fog lamp can only be switched on if the above lamps are also switched on. • In the case of a motor cycle or motor tricycle, if the front or rear position lamps on a side are switched off while the direction indicators on the same side are flashing, the main beam headlamps, dipped beam headlamps or front fog lamps can still be switched on.. • A motor vehicle first registered on or after [DD MM 2014] and designed to tow a vehicle, must be fitted with an electrical connector conforming to ISO 7638 or ISO 12098, or equivalent. • Any lamp on a trailer forming part of a combination with a motor vehicle must be connected to an electrical supply of the motor vehicle, and form an integral part of the electrical system of the motor vehicle. Page 21

94AF. General construction and maintenance requirements

• All lamps, retro-reflectors and reflective markings fitted to a vehicle must – be securely fixed to the vehicle. – be maintained in a clean and efficient condition while the vehicle is on a road. • A tell-tale lamp of a vehicle must be readily visible to the driver at the driver’s seat of the vehicle. • The fog lamps and headlamps fitted to a vehicle must be so constructed and maintained that the direction of the light emitted from those lamps can be adjusted while the vehicle is stationary. • Except main/dipped beam headlamp and front fog lamp, all lamps must not be concealed. • An LED module for a lamp must be— – (a) maintained in good working order when in normal use; and – (b) tamperproof. • A lamp with LED light sources is treated as not being in good working order if more than half of the light sources have failed.

Page 22 94AG/H. Work lamp & Advance warning triangle

• No vehicle, other than a recovery vehicle, a goods vehicle or a special purpose vehicle, may be fitted with any work lamp

• A work lamp must be— – every part of its illuminated area is at least 1.5 metres from the ground; – adjusted so as not to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to road users; and – used solely for illuminating a working area, or the scene of an accident, a breakdown or road works, in the vicinity of the vehicle while being stationary.

• An advance warning triangle may not be displayed on any vehicle except a halted vehicle for the purpose of conveying warning of a temporary obstruction on any part of a road to the traffic in the rear of the halted vehicle

Page 23

94AI. Fitting of warning lamps

• Unless with prior approval from the Commissioner, no vehicle may be fitted with a blue/red warning lamp, whether the same is in working order or not.

• A warning lamp must comply with the installation and performance requirements under Schedule 8Q.

• The Commissioner may authorize the following vehicles to be fitted with, one or more amber warning lamps— – a vehicle constructed or adapted for the purpose of collecting refuse; – a vehicle incapable, by reason of its construction, of exceeding a speed of 30 kilometres per hour on the level under its own power or any trailer drawn by such a vehicle; – a vehicle that exceeds its dimension limit specified in the First Schedule but is authorized by the Commissioner under regulation 6(2) to be used; – a vehicle carrying a load that is wider than the overall width of the vehicle; – a vehicle used for the purposes of inspecting, testing, maintaining, improving, cleansing or watering roads or for any purpose incidental to any such use; – a vehicle used for the purposes of inspecting, cleansing, maintaining, adjusting, renewing or installing any apparatus that is in, on, under or over a road, or for any purpose incidental to any such use; – a vehicle used for escort purposes when travelling at a speed not exceeding 30 kilometres per hour; – a recovery vehicle; – a vehicle for use at airports; or – a vehicle fitted with a lifting appliance that will temporarily protrude outside of the vehicle when the appliance comes into operation. Page 24 94AJ. Retro-reflector for bicycles and tricycle

• A bicycle or tricycle must be fitted at its rear with at least one red retro-reflector when used on road.

• The retro-reflector must be— – so fitted and maintained that no part of the reflected area is less than 0.3 metre, or more than 1.1 metre, above the ground; – fitted on the centre line or the offside of the bicycle or tricycle; and – fitted and maintained at or near the rear of the bicycle or tricycle.

Page 25

94A. Obligatory lamps, etc. not to be obscured • If a vehicle is carrying a load or equipment that obscures any obligatory lamp or retro-reflector or rear marking fitted to the vehicle, either – – the obligatory lamp, etc. must be transferred to a position on the vehicle, or the load or equipment; or – a temporary lamp, etc. of the same type as that of the obligatory lamp, etc. must be fitted to a position on the vehicle, or the load or equipment.

• The front/rear position lamp, front/rear DI or rear retro-reflector must be so fitted that at least 50% of the illuminated area or reflecting are of the lamp or retro-reflector is visible when viewed from any point directly in front or behind, while all doors, tailgates, boot lids, engine bonnets, cabs and other movable parts of the vehicle are in fixed open position.

• This regulation does not apply to any protective screen fitted to a recovery vehicles and special purpose vehicles.

Page 26 95. Special provisions for towing of vehicles

• A vehicle is not required to comply with regulations 89AC and 89AE if the vehicle is broken down and is being towed by another vehicle

• During the hours of darkness or in poor visibility conditions, a broken down vehicle that is being towed by another vehicle must be fitted with the following for indicating the presence of the broken down vehicle being connected to a towing vehicle— – a pair of red lamps; and – a pair of red retro-reflectors.

Page 27

Transitional Provisions

• Any permit given under regulations 111 and 112 of the revoked regulations subsisting or in force immediately before the date on which regulation 94AI comes into operation, shall not be invalided by the revocation effected by regulations 111 and 112, but shall have effect as if permitted under regulation 94AI (regarding warning lamp).

• All exemptions granted under the revoked regulations will be allowed in the new lighting regulations.

Page 28 SCHEDULE 7 Obligatory, Optional and Prohibited Lamps, Retro-reflectors, Reflective Markings and Signal Devices

• Please refer to the attached Schedule 7 for details

Part Scope

1 Motor Vehicle Having Three or More Wheels Not Being a Vehicle to which Any Other Part in this Schedule Applies

2 Motor Cycle With or Without Sidecar

3 Trailer

4 Invalid carriage

5 Mechanically Propelled Agricultural Implement, Agricultural Tractor, Engineering Plant, Industrial Tractor, Land Locomotive, Land Tractor, Locomotive, Motor Tractor and Straddle Carrier

Page 29