Road Traffic Act 1972

68 Obligatory front and rear lamps and headlamps

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Part of this Act and of any regulations made thereunder by the Secretary of State, every vehicle on a road shall, without prejudice to the requirements of subsection (2) below, during the hours of darkness carry—

(a) two lamps, each showing to the front a white light visible from a reasonable distance ; and

(b) two lamps, each showing to the rear a red light visible from a reasonable distance.

(2) Subject as aforesaid, every vehicle on a road, being a vehicle of any such class as may be prescribed, shall carry such lamps or lamp designed to illuminate the road as may be prescribed in relation to vehicles of that class.

(3) Regulations under subsection (2) above may make different provision in relation to vehicles of different classes or in relation to vehicles of any class when used in different circumstances.

(4) The lamps carried by a vehicle in pursuance of this section shall be kept lit—

(a) in the case of a lamp carried in pursuance of subsection (1) above, while the vehicle is on a road during the hours of darkness;

(b) in the case of a lamp carried in pursuance of subsection (2) above, in such circumstances when the vehicle is in motion on a road during the hours of darkness as may be prescribed.

(5) The lamps carried by a vehicle in pursuance of subsections (1) and (2) above shall comply with such conditions as may be prescribed and shall, while the vehicle is on a road during the hours of darkness, be attached to the vehicle in such position and manner as may be prescribed.

(6) The lamps carried by a vehicle in pursuance of subsection (1) above shall, while the vehicle is on a road during the hours of darkness, be kept properly trimmed and in a clean and efficient condition.

(7) It shall be the duty of any person who causes or permits a vehicle to be on any road during the hours of darkness to provide the vehicle with lamps in accordance with the requirements of this and the following sections of this Part of this Act and of any regulations made under those sections (other than section 79).

(8) In this and the following sections of this Part of this Act, " vehicle ", unless the context otherwise requires, means a vehicle of any description and includes a machine or implement of any kind drawn or propelled along roads whether by animal or mechanical power.