Legal requirements for vehicle lamps

Light- rear registration plate

It is a legal requirement that all motor vehicles, motorcycles and trailers are equipped with at least one lamp capable of illuminating the rear registration plate of that motor vehicle, motorcycle or trailer. The lamp or lamps shall be so arranged that none of the lamp’s rays except those reflected from the registration plate are directed to the rear of the vehicle.

The lamp shall be of at least 5 watts in power and capable of illuminating every figure and letter on the registration plate so that they are visible from a distance of at least 20 metres. It is an offence to drive around with a vehicle whose lamp is not clear, damaged, improperly secured or not operating efficiently.

Reversing lamps
Section 27 of Statutory Instrument 154 of 2010 provides that a motor vehicle shall be equipped with not more than two reversing lamps illuminating the road to the rear of the vehicle. The lamp shall have an output of not less than 15 watts, and like all other lamps be kept clean, undamaged and properly secured and in an efficient operating condition at all times. No light shall be emitted except when the vehicle is engaged in reverse gear and shall be maintained so as to operate in this manner at all times.

Spotlights
Spotlights are not compulsory at law. You cannot be arrested when your vehicle has no spotlights. A motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two spotlights fitted at the height lower than that of headlamps of the vehicle. They must be fitted at the front of the vehicle and so focused as to avoid dazzling the vision of the driver of an oncoming vehicle at a level road.

It is an offence to drive a motor vehicle fitted with more than two spotlights. It is a violation of the law to use any spotlight on any road as a substitute of headlamps. It is illegal to use any spotlights to cause annoyance to any person on or off the road in such a manner as to interfere with their vision.
Section 27(4) states that a spotlight fitted solely for the purpose of hunting, searching and night repair work may be fitted above headlamps on condition that they are easily detachable when not in use.

Beacon lights
Except for the vehicles stated below, no vehicle may be driven on any road in Zimbabwe while fitted with a beacon light.

The vehicles that may be fitted with a red beacon lights are:

• An ambulance, ambulance back-up vehicle;

• A fire engine or a motor vehicle used solely for fire brigade or fire fighting purposes.

The vehicles that may be fitted with a blue beacon light are:

• Motor vehicles used by or for the purpose of the Police Force or Military Police of the ZNA.

• Vehicles used for escorting the vehicle in which the President or a person authorised by the President is travelling.

The vehicles that may be fitted with an amber beacon light are:

• A vehicle used for the purpose of traffic law enforcement by a Government Vehicle Inspecting Officer/Driving Examiner.

• A motor vehicle incorporating a crane, winch or similar device for recovering or towing disable vehicles.

• A motor vehicle escorting a vehicle carrying an abnormal load.

• A vehicle towing a disabled vehicle at night.

Height and side markers, heavy vehicles
While height markers are compulsory, side markers are not and may be fitted by those who opt to. However, there are certain specifications, the lights have to meet and violating such a requirement may then lead to a traffic offence.

A heavy vehicle is a vehicle whose net mass exceeds 2 300kg. No person shall drive a heavy vehicle on any road unless such a vehicle is fitted with height lamps at the highest point of the vehicle at the front and back.

The lamps must be not less than 2 watts at the front and rear. They must be not more than 7 watts and emit any colour other than red if visible from the front and other than white if visible from the rear. This is not only a                                                                                                 safety requirement but a mandatory requirement.

It is of paramount importance that a vehicle is visible from a distance. This will make oncoming and drivers behind aware of your presence. Besides lamps on a vehicle, retro-reflectors help improve visibility.

The next article will look at retro-reflectors fitted on pedal cycles, animal-drawn vehicles, motorcycles, commercial vehicles and heavy vehicles.

Ernest Muchena is Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe’ s Product Development and Marketing Manager. You can contact him  on [email protected] or [email protected]