Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

Exceptions — military vehicles

9.—(1) Regulation 21 does not apply to a home forces' vehicle or to a vehicle in the service of a visiting force or of a headquarters whilst being used—

(a) in connection with training which is certified in writing for the purposes of this regulation by a person duly authorised in that behalf to be training on a special occasion and of which not less than 48 hours notice has been given by that person to the Chief Constable; or

(b) on manoeuvres within such limits and during such period as may from time to time be specified by Order in Council under the Manoeuvres Act 1958(1).

(2) Where not less than 6 and not more than 12 vehicles being home forces' vehicles or vehicles of a visiting force or of a headquarters are proceeding together in a convoy on tactical or driving exercises which are authorised in writing by a person duly authorised in that behalf, and of which not less than 48 hours notice in writing has been given by that person to the Chief Constable and the interval between any two vehicles in such a convoy does not exceed 20m—

(a) front position lamps shall be required only on the vehicle leading the convoy; and

(b) rear position lamps shall be required only on the rearmost vehicle provided that every other vehicle in the convoy carries a bright light under the vehicle illuminating either a part of the vehicle or anything attached to the vehicle or the road surface beneath the vehicle in such a manner that the presence of the vehicle can be detected from the rear.

(3) No lamp is required to be fitted to any home forces' vehicle or any vehicle in the service of a visiting force or of a headquarters if the vehicle is constructed or adapted for combat and is such that compliance with these provisions is impracticable and it is fitted with two red rear position lamps and two red rear retro reflectors when on a road between sunset and sunrise. Such lamps and reflectors need not meet any of the requirements specified in Schedules 10 and 18.

(4) Part II of these Regulations does not apply to a vehicle in the service of a visiting force or of a headquarters if the vehicle complies in every respect with the requirements as to lighting equipment and reflectors thereto contained in a Convention referred to in regulation 5.

(5) A home forces' vehicle shall while used in conjunction with operations of the Royal Ulster Constabulary be exempt from the requirements of regulations 27 and 28 if an authorising officer has certified that such exemption is necessary in the case of that vehicle for the purpose of assistance in enforcing the law.

(6) Paragraph (5) shall not affect any civil claim for injury or damage to person or property.

(7) For the purposes of this regulation “authorising officer” means an officer of the home forces of a rank not lower than that of Captain Royal Navy, Colonel or Group Captain.

(1)

1958 c. 7 (7 and Eliz 2)