New vehicle lighting rules to improve safety

Changes to vehicle lighting rules aimed at improving safety on New Zealand roads are set to come into force on 1 April 2011.

The new requirements are set out in the Land Transport: Vehicle Lighting Amendment Rule 2011, which sets out the standards and safety requirements for all lighting equipment fitted to vehicles used on New Zealand roads.

The changes are designed to ensure that New Zealand’s lighting rules can accommodate the latest advances in lighting safety technology, and are in line with current international practice while ensuring that vehicles continue to be operated safely.

Among the changes included in the rule will be the permitting of new safety technology such as the use of emergency brake lights which flash briefly under heavy braking and are being introduced in many modern vehicles.

The rule also makes it mandatory for all light trailers registered after 1 April 2012 to be fitted with indicator and stop lamps, and allows bicycles to be fitted with indicator and stop lamps – something prohibited under the previous legislation.

More details of the Rule changes are available at http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/rules/vehicle-lighting-amendment-2011-qa.html

ENDS

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