Daimler Dingo Lights

[snowdrop358]

Over the weekend, I saw a Daimler Dingo being driven, along with other WW2 military vehicles, on the roads near me.  It only had a tiny red light on the rear offside; no brake or indicator lights were fitted. I'm curious as to the legalities of running a vehicle like this on the road, the wisdom of doing so is more obvious.   

[REME 245]

Construction and Use regulaions are not applied retrospectively and the regulations at this time refered to "during the hours of darkness" so ok during the day.   A vehicle manufactured at that date should have a minmum of one centraly mounted Brake Light so you can argue the vehicle should have had this.    Obviousy you can have poor visiabilty conditions even during the day so if the lack of lighting caused an accident they would no doubt take you to court for dangerous driving or similar.  Indicators again were not required when built but if you cause an accident as a result of not indicating your intentions beware.   You could have a Comander giving hand signals.

Edited January 12, 2022 by REME 245

[snowdrop358]

Thanks for that, it looked a bit odd with the other old vehicles having been retrofitted with at least the very basics. The chap in it must have been frozen 🙂 

[osiford]

I've only just noticed this thread. Unfortunately, the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations apply in these cases, and they ARE retrospective in some respects. Other than the few classes of vehicles that are covered by an exemption, and nearly all ex-military vehicles don't qualify for exemption, the following applies. Two tail lamps are required, no further than 16 inches from the outer edge of the vehicle (this does not include mirrors), minimum height from ground 15 inches, maximum 3ft 6 ins.

Two reflectors are also required, conforming to same positioning. 

There are no exemptions I am aware of for the above.

A pair of stop lights are required, unless the vehicle was first used before 1st January 1971, in which case a single stop lamp, fitted "not to the left of the vehicle centre line" can be used. Vehicles first used prior to 1st January 1936 are not required to fitted with stop lamps, nor are vehicles that cannot exceed 15mph.

OK, the chances of getting a tug from the boys in blue or DVSA are remote, as few really know the rules, but it could result in immediate prohibition and/or some other penalty.

We won't go into indicators etc here, unless somebody really wants to!

[Bob Grundy]

Rules: everyone of us break them, yes we do. As I get not younger anymore i am just fed up with the majority of them, I just don't care....

[osiford]

2 hours ago, Bob Grundy said:

Rules: everyone of us break them, yes we do. As I get not younger anymore i am just fed up with the majority of them, I just don't care....

Some  are  seemingly pointless, but as I get older, I find the prospect of dealing with the fallout less appealing, especially when it's no great effort to at least look like I've tried to comply..

[LARD]

I'm sure we all ensure we comply with regulations as best as we, or our vehicles, are able, but I can't help thinking we are flogging a dead horse.   Especially when we can't get drivers of modern vehicles to use the basics....... yes you BMW drivers and indicators etc.

[john fox]

just fit a "trailer" board and have done with it.
No drama when driving and easily removed for shows.

Common sense to have the best visibility "you" can on today's roads, forget authenticity when mixing historic vehicles with modern road speed traffic.
learn the lesson from the WW2 vehicle on the M20 "wiped out" by an artic.

[osiford]

10 hours ago, john fox said:

just fit a "trailer" board and have done with it.
No drama when driving and easily removed for shows.

Common sense to have the best visibility "you" can on today's roads, forget authenticity when mixing historic vehicles with modern road speed traffic.
learn the lesson from the WW2 vehicle on the M20 "wiped out" by an artic.

I agree, a nice simple and cheap way of doing it. Just don't use one those pathetic 2 1/2 ft long ones that are for tiddly trailers, sold by Halfords and the like, get a proper full width one.

Even with a decent lighting set up, it only takes one half (fully?) asleep HGV driver, who doesn't see a 30mph vehicle on a dual carriageway, while on cruise control at 56mph, to spoil your day.