Question:
Is there a National standard for vehicle head light strength and glare?
I see some guys go and fit aftermarket “Blue star” globes in their cars.
These globes are about R100 for 2 at XYZ and various spare shops.
They claim to shine further than the normal globes.
The problem is for the people around you that get blinded by the bright glare.
I have stopped this car’s owner and told him to replace it with normal globes.
He says he bought the car like that and he will not change it.
Why does the testing stations not look at this? I suppose they just want to see the lights working.
Answer:
There are standards for head lamps. The maximum strength is controlled as well.
I copy the regulations and references for the specifications for you. Head lamps must be white in terms of the legislation.
Reg 159. Head lamps
(1) No person shall operate on a public road—
(a) a motor vehicle, other than a motor cycle, a motor tricycle with one wheel in front or trailer, unless it is equipped in front on each side of its longitudinal centre‑line with—
(i) one head lamp capable of emitting a main‑beam and a dipped‑beam;
(ii) one head lamp capable of emitting a main‑beam and one head lamp capable of emitting a dipped‑beam; or
(iii) one head lamp contemplated in subparagraph (i) or head lamps contemplated in subparagraph (ii) and an additional head lamp capable of emitting a main‑beam;
(b) a motor cycle without a side‑car, motor tricycle with one wheel in front, unless it is equipped in front with—
(i) one head lamp capable of emitting a main‑beam and a dipped‑beam;
(ii) one head lamp capable of emitting a main‑beam and one head lamp capable or emitting a dipped‑beam, both of which are fitted in the same vertical plane; or
(iii) two headlamps, each capable of emitting a main‑beam and a dipped‑beam, both of which are fitted in the same horizontal plane; or
(c) a motor cycle with a side‑car, unless—
(i) the motor cycle is equipped in front with one head lamp contemplated in paragraph (b)(i) or head lamps contemplated in paragraph (b)(ii) or (iii); and
(ii) the side‑car is equipped with one parking lamp which complies with the provisions of regulation 164 or with one head lamp contemplated in paragraph (b)(i), subject to the proviso to regulation 161(4)(a).
(2) At least one head lamp contemplated in subregulation (1)(a) capable of emitting a dipped‑beam or a parking lamp complying with the provisions of regulation 164 shall be so fitted on each side of the longitudinal centre‑line of the motor vehicle concerned that the portion of the illuminating surface thereof furthest from the longitudinal centre‑line of the motor vehicle is not more than 400 millimetres from the outer edge of the front of the motor vehicle.
(3) The main-beam and dipped-beam of a head lamp fitted to a motor vehicle first registered on or after 1 January 2002, shall comply with the requirements of standard specification SANS 1046 “Motor vehicle safety: lights and light signalling devices installed on motor vehicles and trailers”, and standard specification SANS 1376 “Lights for motor vehicles”, Part 2: “Head lights”: Provided that the height of the dipped beam and headlamp of a light motor vehicle shall not exceed 1400 millimetres measured from the ground to the centre of the lamp.
Reg 160. Main‑beam
Every head lamp emitting a main‑beam of light shall be so adjusted and maintained that—
(a) it shall be capable of adequately illuminating an area ahead of the motor vehicle concerned enabling the driver to see any person, vehicle or substantial object at a distance of at least 100 metres ahead; and
(b) it can be extinguished by the use of a device which simultaneously shall cause or allow the dipped‑beam of light to be emitted or continue to be emitted from a head lamp.
Reg 161. Dipped‑beam
(1) Every head lamp emitting a dipped‑beam of light which, when projected onto a vertical screen, shows a beam pattern with a sharp, clearly defined cut‑off line diagonal to the left (hereinafter referred to as the “diagonal cut‑off line”) and horizontal to the right (hereinafter referred to as the “horizontal cut‑off line”), shall be so adjusted and maintained that, when the motor vehicle concerned is on a reasonably level road such beam at the horizontal cut‑off line shall—
(a) slant downwards at a percentage inclination of at least 0,5 per cent which percentage inclination shall be calculated in accordance with the formula—
{{(h_1~-~h_2)} over L}~x~100; and
(b) strike the road surface ahead of the motor vehicle within a distance in metres calculated in accordance with the formula—
200 x h1
(2) In the formulae referred to in subregulation (1)—
(a) “h1″ represents the height in metres of the head lamp measured to the centre of the head lamp vertically from ground level;
(b) “h2″ represents the height in metres of the horizontal cut‑off line measured vertically from ground level at the screen contemplated in subregulation (1); and
(c) “L” represents the distance in metres of the screen contemplated in subregulation (1) measured horizontally from the head lamp as illustrated hereunder.
(3) Every head lamp emitting a dipped‑beam of light which, when projected onto a vertical screen, shows a symmetrical light‑pattern or does not have a diagonal and horizontal cut‑off line, shall be so adjusted and maintained that when the motor vehicle concerned is on a reasonably level road, the centre of the intense part of such beam shall slant downwards to strike the road surface ahead of the motor vehicle within a distance not exceeding 45 metres.
(4) Every head lamp emitting a dipped‑beam of light shall be so adjusted and maintained that—
(a) it shall be capable of adequately illuminating an area ahead of the motor vehicle concerned enabling the driver to see any person, vehicle or substantial object at a distance of at least 45 metres ahead of the motor vehicle: Provided that the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to a head lamp emitting a dipped‑beam of light fitted to the side‑car of a motor cycle;
(b) it does not cause a dangerous glare to oncoming traffic on a reasonably level road; and
(c) the intersection of the diagonal and horizontal cut‑off lines of a dipped‑beam referred to in subregulation (1), or the centre of the intense part of a dipped beam referred to in subregulation (3), shall not deflect to the right.
Reg 181. Colour of lights
(1) Subject to the provisions of regulation 170(1), 171(1), 172, 175 or 176, no person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle which is fitted with or carries on it a lamp which—
(a) except in the case of a brake anti‑lock warning light to the front of a trailer, emits a light which is not white, amber or yellow in colour towards the front;
(b) emits a light which is not yellow or amber in colour towards either side of the motor vehicle; or
(c) except in the case of a direction indicator or reversing lamp complying with the provisions of these regulations, or a rear-ward facing lamp on a truck -tractor directed so as to facilitate the safe connection of a semi-trailer and connected such that it can be operated only when reverse gear is engaged or when the parking brake is applied, emits a light which is not red in colour towards the rear.
(2) When two or more lamps of the same class emitting light in the same direction are fitted to a vehicle they shall emit light of the same colour.
Provided that no person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle fitted with any colour of lights other than the colour of lights prescribed in terms of these regulations.
Regards
Alta
Lighting, Head Lamps and Spot Lights on Vehicles and Rules of the Road https://t.co/JK6rNW8wQi #ArriveAlive pic.twitter.com/Q1mFCGcuxI
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) September 29, 2015