This
inspection applies to all direction indicators and hazard warning devices fitted.
Direction indicators and hazard warning lamps are not required to be fitted to
vehicles used only during the hours of daylight, which are fitted with neither
front nor rear position lamps, etc. (See 1.1.A) Nor are they required on vehicles
first used before 1 January 1936. However, if they are fitted, they must be tested.
Vehicles first used before 1 September 1965 may have direction indicators incorporated
with stop lamps, or combined with side or rear lamps, in which case front indicators
may be white and rear indicators red.
Vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986 must be fitted with one side repeater
indicator on each side. Instead of a separate lamp, the side repeater might be
part of the front direction indicator if it includes a wraparound lens.
Lamps incorporating a side repeater are marked either with an ‘E’ mark in a circle
or an ‘e’ mark in a rectangle above which is a number 5.
However, some vehicles are fitted with a wraparound lens with no European approval
markings. These can be tested by standing approximately 1000mm to the side of
the vehicle’s rear bumper with the indicator on. If amber light can be seen coming
through the front lens (not a reflection) this is acceptable
Direction indicator ‘tell tales’ may be audible or visual. A ‘tell-tale’ is not
required if one or more direction indicators on each side can be seen by the driver
from the driver’s seat.
Hazard warning devices are not required on vehicles first used before 1 April
1986, but if one is fitted it must be tested.
The hazard warning lamp ‘tell tale’ may be a separate light or the same as the
indicator ‘tell-tale. However, it must be a flashing light.
Tricycle and quadricycle requirements are detailed at Section 9.1.
A semaphore arm must illuminate when in operation. It may flash, but is not required
to do so. |
A. Flashing Type
1. Check the presence, security and operation of the selector switch.
2. Operate the left and right direction indicators in turn and check:
a. the driver’s ‘tell tale’ warning device for presence and operation
b. that the minimum number of direction indicators are securely fitted
Note: The precise position of direction indicators is not part of the inspection,
but check visually that the lamps are at about the same height and the same distance
from each side of the vehicle.
c. they are in good working order
Note: At least 50% of light sources in a lamp must illuminate and at least 50%
of a lamp must be visible from the front, rear or side as appropriate
d. that every direction indicator emits amber light (except vehicles first used
before 1 September 1965)
e. the flashing rate Note: It may be necessary to run the engine when checking
the flashing rate
f. they are not adversely affected by the operation of any other lamp.
B. Hazard Warning Device
1. Check that the hazard warning device:
a. operates using only one switch
b. switch for presence, security and operation
c. ‘tell-tale’ is working correctly
d. operates all the direction indicators simultaneously with the ignition switched
both on and off.
C. Semaphore Type
1. Operate the direction indicators and check:
a. the operation of each indicator
b. that every direction indicator emits an amber light
c. selector switch presence, security, condition and operation.
2. Check the correct operation of the ‘tell-tale’.
|
1. A selector switch missing,
insecure, faulty, or not able to be operated from the normal driving position.
2. A direction indicator:
a. ‘tell tale’ missing or inoperative
b. missing, insecure, obviously incorrectly positioned or does not face to the
front, rear or side as appropriate
c. inoperative, excessively damaged, deteriorated or obscured so that they are
not visible from a reasonable distance
Note: An effective proprietary repair (e.g. lens repair tape, etc.) must be assessed
on its merits considering security, colour, light output and durability.
d. shows light of an incorrect colour
e. does not flash at 60 to 120 times per minute
f. adversely affected by the operation of another lamp e.g. dual function lamps
on foreign vehicles.
1. A hazard warning device
a. operated by more than one switch
b. switch missing, insecure or faulty
c. ‘tell-tale’ not working correctly
d. does not cause all the direction indicators to flash simultaneously, with the
ignition both on and off.
1. A semaphore arm
a. does not extend or retract smoothly
b. does not show an amber light to the front and rear
c.
a selector switch missing, insecure or faulty.
2. The ‘tell-tale’ is missing or not working correctly.
|