LED light bar rules

[Clubbie Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Clubbie]

AussieAndy...no need to apologise and I wasn't offended by your comments. My comments were not intended to come across as ignorance either.

I see your point how a roof mounted light would be the first thing an oncoming driver may see which may affect their vision while driving in the opposite direction...and I do agree. The driver using such lights should only use them when it is safe to do so and without putting other drivers in danger.

I suppose it also comes down to using such lights responsibly and not trying to deliberately blind other people, no matter where they are installed on the vehicle.

Considering roof mounted lighting is illegal, no one should complain about being defected or booked for it...so I also do agree with you on that point as well.

However...I'm still of the view that the ADR rules don't make sense with the use of LED light bars. Right or wrong, that is just my opinion. Your opinion about this issue is respected and each to their own who decide to mount a LED light bar on the roof of their 4WD.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

A bit of a different perspective. I wrote in here a few months ago about being blinded by some dumbarse who left his roof lightbar on. I was in my Commodore so pretty close to the ground. I couldn't see anything other than a white wash across the road and into the bush both sides. I was on a quiet country ish road with no one behind me so I hit the brakes and came to a stop. I let it go past assuming he could see and wouldn't run over me. The difference between that and someone who fails to drop high beam (with or without spotlights) is that you can look to the side of the road and see something. A much safer option. I did note the vehicle in question when it was alongside and if I see it again the lightbar is history.

So in my view it isn't the same thing. One is irritating and annoying and the other is just dangerous.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Correct me if I am wrong but isn't there a national standard for the maximum height of any forward throwing light? I thought it was 1.5m so I will have to check. This covers semis too hence you don't see them with lights mounted on the roof or higher.

[chappy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chappy]

Hey Dave, from memory your correct about the max height for forward throwing lights a mate and myself went and spoke to the officers responsible for vehicle
licensing and they told us the same thing.
This was a couple of years ago tho'.

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

Correct me if I am wrong but isn't there a national standard for the maximum height of any forward throwing light? I thought it was 1.5m so I will have to check. This covers semis too hence you don't see them with lights mounted on the roof or higher.

100% correct, no forward facing head lights/driving lights over 1.5m. This excludes indicators and clearance markers, which are limited in brightness and have to be ADR compliant for their purpose. All forward facing illumination also must either be amber or white depending on purpose.

[adrian5800 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close adrian5800]

100% correct, no forward facing head lights/driving lights over 1.5m.

Not true Andy sorry

ADR13/00 Driving lights; section 7.3.4.2: In height: no individual specifications
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2005L03991

Vehicles built prior to 1991 (i.e. prior to ADR13/00) the height limit for main beam headlamps was 1400mm.

Light bars on the roof rack of a typical 4wd are not compliant because the ADR stipulates in section 7.3.6. Orientation: Towards the front
-not because of the height. If you mounted a light bar on the roof of a Hiace van for example it would be compliant provided it met the other requirements.
Cheers
Ades

[Guest Close Guest]

In SA, roof mounted lights are permitted
https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/transpo...nstrumentation

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

Ok, I'll rephrase what I just said.

In Qld there is definatly a maximum height for headlights.

1.5m rings a bell but it could also be 1.4m. I know this for a fact, had to lower the headlight assemblies on an old truck body mounted on a 4wd chassis before it was mod plated. This was a few years ago, before NCOP.

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

Ok, I'll rephrase what I just said.

In Qld there is definatly a maximum height for headlights.

1.5m rings a bell but it could also be 1.4m. I know this for a fact, had to lower the headlight assemblies on an old truck body mounted on a 4wd chassis before it was mod plated. This was a few years ago, before NCOP.

And now to be proven wrong......

Shows you should look stuff up before you go saying stuff with how quickly it changes.

It appears in Qld you actually can legally fit a light bar to the roof, the height limit only pertains to low beam. It is 1.2m for ADR compliant vehicles and 1.4m for noncompliant vehicles for those playing at home.

The most recent publication reguarding LED light bars is http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/Sa...inglampsv3.pdf
That was released September 2015

So here is me eatting humble pie but I still stand by my earlier statements, and honestly beleive roof rack fitment is generally a bad idea for road use. Also, not sure on the laws in your state, but it is what it is.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Stirred that up a bit.

[sweetpea Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sweetpea]

In SA, roof mounted lights are permitted
https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/transpo...nstrumentation

This page then refers



For more information see the Vehicle Standards fact sheet MR1517 LED Light Bars and Additional Driving Lights 612.8 KB

which says the same thing but at the very end of the document there is the proviso

"This publication represents the views of the authors and not
necessarily those of the Minister for Transport, Energy,
Infrastructure, Administrative Services and Government
Enterprises, and Road Safety or the Department of Transport and
Infrastructure. No responsibility is accepted by the Minister for any
errors or omissions contained within this publication. The
information contained within the publication is for general
information only. Readers should always seek independent,
professional advice where appropriate, and no liability will be
accepted for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any
information in this publication."

I would not like to rely on it.

S

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

You gotta love a government department that advises people to get "professional"advice before relying on that government department's advice.

[adrian5800 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close adrian5800]

That and the fact Motor Vehicle Standards Act trumps state regs..

[Clubbie Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Clubbie]

Anyone here confused yet? I am! Maybe that's how people in government want you to be...who knows.

I never thought something so simple could be so over regulated. Just goes to show how the ADR and other pieces of legislation doesn't make any sense, as there is no consistency throughout the states. And that's just only over LED light bars.

[KIMBOPRADO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close KIMBOPRADO]

Was just reading best value spotties thread and 120D4D post #29 and had link to unsealed 4x4 issue #25, it also had a further link to legalalities of lights

http://www.unsealed4x4.com.au/issue0...-+Send+001#259

Interesting read as well..

One page 268 "one bit of wording to pay close attention to is 'up to a maximum of four'. This refers to additional lights so it includes fog lamps in a bull bar if the vehicle wasn't originally fitted with them. Two new fog lights on the bar and a pair of HID's in the middle will mean a light bar will count as a fifth and be illegal - no matter where it's mounted"

Confirms only NSW/WA cannot mount bars on the roof at the moment

Cheers kim