The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989

(Regulations 18 and 20)

SCHEDULE 19

PART I Requirements relating to obligatory rear markings and optional rear markings to the extent specified in part ii

SECTION A General requirements

1.  Number– (a) A motor vehicle the overall length of which– (i) does not exceed 13 m:	A rear marking shown in diagram 1, 2 or 3 in Section B of this Schedule
(ii) exceeds 13 m:	A rear marking shown in diagram 4 or 5 in Section B of this Schedule
(b) A trailer if it forms part of a combination of vehicles the overall length of which– (i) does not exceed 11 m:	A rear marking shown in diagram 1, 2 or 3 in Section B of this Schedule
(ii) exceeds 11 m but does not exceed 13 m:	A rear marking shown in diagram 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in Section B of this Schedule
(iii) exceeds 13 m:	A rear marking shown in diagram 4 or 5 in Section B of this Schedule
2.  Position– (a) Longitudinal:	At or near the rear of the vehicle
(b) Lateral– (i) A rear marking shown in diagram 2, 3 or 5 in Section B of this Schedule:	Each part shall be fitted as near as practicable to the outermost edge of the vehicle on the side thereof on which it is fitted so that no part of the marking projects beyond the outermost part of the vehicle on either side
(ii) A rear marking shown in diagram 1 or 4 in Section B of this Schedule:	The marking shall be fitted so that the vertical centre-line of the marking lies on the vertical plane through the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and no part of the marking projects beyond the outermost part of the vehicle on either side
(c) Vertical:	The lower edge of every rear marking shall be at a height of not more than 1700 mm nor less than 400 mm above the ground whether the vehicle is laden or unladen
3.  Angles of visibility:	Plainly visible to the rear, except while the vehicle is being loaded or unloaded
4.  Alignment:	The lower edge of every rear marking shall be fitted horizontally. Every part of a rear marking shall lie within 20° of a transverse vertical plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and shall face to the rear
5.  Markings:	A British Standard mark
6.  Size:	In accordance with Sections B and C of this Schedule
7.  Colour:	Red fluorescent material in the stippled areas shown in any of the diagrams in Section B of this Schedule and yellow retro reflecting material in any of the areas so shown, being areas not stippled and not constituting a letter. All letters shall be coloured black

8.  Other requirements–

• The two parts of every rear marking shown in diagrams 2, 3 or 5 in Section B of this Schedule shall form a pair.

9.  Definitions–

• In this Schedule “British Standard mark” means the specification for rear marking plates for vehicles published by the British Standards Institution under the reference BS AU 152: 1970, namely “BS AU 152”.

SECTION B Size, colour and type of rear markings

SECTION C Additional provisions relating to the size and form of rear markings

1.  Any variation in a dimension (other than as to the height of a letter) specified in any of the diagrams in Section B of this Schedule shall be treated as permitted for the purposes of these Regulations if the variation–

(a) in the case of a dimension so specified as 250 mm or as over 250 mm does not exceed 2.5 per cent of that dimension;

(b) in the case of a dimension so specified as 40 mm or as over 40 mm but as under 250 mm does not exceed 5 per cent of that dimension; or

(c) in the case of a dimension so specified as under 40 mm does not exceed 10 per cent of that dimension.

2.  Any variation in a dimension as to the height of a letter specified in any of the said diagrams shall be treated as permitted for the purposes of these Regulations if the variation–

(a) in the case of a dimension so specified as 105 mm does not exceed 2.5 per cent of that dimension; or

(b) in the case of a dimension so specified as 70 mm does not exceed 5 per cent of that dimension.

3.  Any variation in a dimension as to the angle of hatching specified in any of the said diagrams shall be treated as permitted for the purposes of these Regulations if the variation does not exceed 5 degrees.

4.  Every rear marking shown in diagrams 1 or 4 of Section B of this Schedule shall be constructed in the form of a single plate, and every rear marking shown in diagrams 2, 3 or 5 of Section B of this Schedule shall be constructed in the form of two plates of equal size and shape.

5.  All letters incorporated in any rear marking shall have the proportions and form of letters as shown in Part V of Schedule 7 to the Traffic Signs Regulations 1981.

PART II Requirements relating to optional rear markings

1.  Number–

• The following requirements are prescribed as regards the number of rear markings to which regulation 20 applies–

  (i) Any motor vehicle the maximum gross weight of which exceeds 7500 kg or the unladen weight of which exceeds 3000 kg:	Any number of rear markings may be fitted appropriate to the length of the vehicle as in paragraph 1(a) of Part I of Section A of this Schedule
  (ii) Any trailer the maximum gross weight of which exceeds 3500 kg or the unladen weight of which exceeds 1000 kg:	Any number of rear markings may be fitted appropriate of the length of the combination of vehicles as in paragraph 1(b) of Section A of Part I of this Schedule
  (iii) Any trailer which is being drawn by a vehicle which is itself required or permitted to be fitted with a rear marking:	Any number of rear markings may be fitted appropriate to the length of the combination of vehicles as in paragraph 1(b) of Section A of Part I of this Schedule
  (iv) Any other vehicle:	No rear marking may be fitted

2.  Other provisions–

• The requirements specified in paragraphs 2 to 8 of Section A of Part I of this Schedule and in Sections B and C of that Part are also prescribed for optional rear markings.