Invitation for Comments on the Proposed Lighting Regulations To
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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,