This
inspection applies to all obligatory headlamps fitted.
Headlamps 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).
Vehicles first used before 1 January 1931 are not required to be fitted with headlamps.
However, if optional headlamps are fitted;
• where one is fitted it must dip
• where two are fitted, either both must dip or one must dip and the other
switches off.
Care must be taken to ensure that relatively large front lamps on old vehicles
are headlamps and not merely position lamps.
A “matched pair” is a pair of lamps which
• both emit light of substantially the same colour and intensity, and
• are both the same size and of such a shape that they are symmetrical to
one another.
In a four-headlamp system the outer pair of headlamps need not emit the same colour
light as the inner pair.
Buses first used before 1 October 1969 are only required to be fitted
with one headlamp. Where two are fitted, neither the main or dipped beams are
required to form matched pair.
Headlamp aim is covered by Section 1.8 of this Manual.
Tricycle and quadricycle requirements are detailed at Section 9.1 |
1. Check the presence,
security and operation of the headlamp switch.
2. Check that the vehicle is securely fitted with obligatory headlamps, as follows
• a matched pair of main beam headlamps, and
• a matched pair of dipped-beam headlamps
Note: Main-beam and dipped- beam
functions may be provided by a single pair of headlamps.
3. Switch on each main-beam headlamp and check that
• all main beams are switched off by one switch (dip switch) which leaves
a matched pair of dipped-beam headlamps switched on,
or
• the main beam headlamp reflectors are deflected by a driver’s control,
to make them dipped beams.
4. Check that each obligatory headlamp:
a. is in good working order
Note: Any adverse effects due to headlamp lens damage or deterioration can also
be assessed on checking beam aim (see 1.8). A repaired lens must be assessed on
its merits
b. shows light of the correct colour
c. is not affected by the operation of any other lamp
5. Check that a headlamp that is intended to be one of a matched pair, emits light
of the same colour and is the same size or shape as its counterpart.
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1. A switch missing,
insecure or faulty.
2. A missing, insecure or obviously incorrectly positioned obligatory headlamp.
Note: Class 3 vehicles may require only one headlamp (see Section 9.1).
Note: The precise position of headlamps 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
3.
a. A headlamp does not operate immediately when selected on dipped beam or on
main beam
b. operation of the dip switch does not
• extinguish all main beam headlamps, and leave on at least one pair of dipped-
beam headlamps,
or
• deflect the main beams to make them dipped beams.
4. An obligatory headlamp:
a. inoperative or excessively damaged or deteriorated so that the light output
is well below that required to illuminate the road ahead.
b. an obl igatory headlamp shows light that is not substantially white or yellow
c. adversely affected by the operation of any other lamp
5. An obligatory main or dipped beam headlamp intended to be a matched pair:
• do not emit light of the same colour
• are not the same size or shape
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