The lights that our vehicles are equipped with serve two important functions. They allow us to see and they allow us to be seen by other road users. The messages conveyed to others by our vehicle’s lights must be clear with no opportunity for confusion. This convention is followed worldwide.
White, Yellow and Red Lights
For most of us, three colours of lights are allowed to be used on our vehicles. Generally, you will see white and yellow to the front and red to the rear. With the exception of signal and backup lights this is a standard configuration.
Which End Are We Looking At?
The standard allows us to decide which end of a vehicle we are looking at. If we see white and yellow, we should be looking at the front of a vehicle. If red, it should be the rear. If we are looking at the side, the side marker lights allow us to decide if the vehicle is facing to our left or right.
Width, Height and Length
Properly installed clearance and identification lights tell us about a vehicle’s dimensional information.
Canadian Standards
Vehicle lighting standards are set by Transport Canada in the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations. These tell vehicle manufacturers how vehicles that are sold in Canada are to be built. Technical Standard 108 deals with lights, reflectors and associated equipment.
Rather than reading through them to try and determine what you need, Transport Canada has created a visual guide to the requirements:
Cars are similar to trucks but do not require clearance and identification lamps.
Provincial Enforcement
Enforcement of the national standards are the responsibility of the provincial governments. In BC this is accomplished through Division 4 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations and the Vehicle Inspection Manual used by Designated Inspection Facilities. The manual must be purchased from Crown Publications and may be available to read at your local library.
Lights for Decoration
Lights used as a decoration have no place on our highways. Colours other than white, red and yellow are generally forbidden for most vehicles. All lights must serve the purposes set out in Division 4 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations. These regulations specify colour, placement and lamp type. Anything else may confuse other drivers and confusion could result in a collision.
Off Road Lights
“off-road lamp” means a lamp designed for any use other than those specified in Division 4 of these regulations;
If you choose to install them, they must be covered by an opaque cover at all times when the vehicle is on the road. This applies if the vehicle is being driven or is parked.
Story URL: https://www.drivesmartbc.ca/equipment/coloured-lights-tell-us-something-about-vehicles
-- Tim Schewe Road Safety Advocate DriveSmartBC.ca
