Contents

Objective of the Rule

Extent of consultation

Section 1     Application

• 1.1     Title
• 1.2     Date when Rule comes into force

Section 2     Amendments to Rule requirements

• 2.1     Scope of the Rule
• 2.2     General safety requirements
• 2.3     Insertion of new clause for general fitting and performance requirements
• 2.4     Approved vehicle standards
• 2.5     Fitting and performance requirements for headlamps
• 2.6     Fitting and performance requirements for stop lamps
• 2.7     Fitting and performance requirements for high-mounted stop lamps
• 2.8     Safety requirements for direction-indicator lamps
• 2.9     Fitting and performance requirements for direction-indicator lamps
• 2.10     Fitting and performance requirements for side-marker lamps
• 2.11     Fitting and performance requirements for end-outline marker lamps

Section 3     Amendment to Definitions

• 3.1     Substitution of definition

Section 4     Amendment to Schedules

• 4.1     Amendment to Schedule 1, Vehicle standards for lighting equipment

Objective of the Rule

Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting Amendment 2011 (the amendment Rule) amends Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting 2004 (the Rule), which sets out the requirements for the lighting equipment fitted to vehicles.

The objective of the amendment Rule is to make changes to the Rule to ensure that New Zealand's requirements continue to reflect the needs of vehicle operators, are in line with current overseas standards and practice and are able to accommodate changing lighting technology, while ensuring that vehicles continue to be operated safely on our roads. The changes in the amendment Rule address areas where:

• there is an inconsistency between the Rule and the requirements of other enactments or international standards;
• the Rule is out of date and out of step with modern practice;
• the Rule is overly and unnecessarily restrictive; or
• the adoption of desirable new technology is precluded by the Rule.

The amendment Rule:

• allows the use of a light source that is part of equipment required or permitted elsewhere in law to be fitted to a vehicle (including LED lamps that indicate the status of electronic road user charges (eRUC) labels permitted by the Road User Charges Regulations 1978);
• aligns the Rule with internationally recognised vehicle standards to allow new safety technologies such as emergency brake light systems;
• clarifies the Rule to specifically provide for some modern lighting systems that require two lamps in a pair to operate at different levels of brightness to each other if they are grouped closely together with other lamps that provide a different function;
• provides an alternative means of compliance for certain specialised vehicles that have implements that obscure the required front lamp systems;
• allows cycles to be fitted with stop lamps and direction-indicator lamps;
• requires stop lamps and direction-indicator lamps on new trailers;
• provides for the fitting of direction-indicator lamps on forklifts;
• corrects the terminology used in the Rule that refers, incorrectly, to "light frequency" rather than to the "flashing frequency" of the light emitted from direction-indicator lamps;
• better aligns the requirements for side-marker lamps and end-outline lamps with overseas standards, which brings New Zealand requirements into line with those applying to lighting fitted to vehicles being imported and will simplify enforcement and inspection;
• revises the definition of 'headlamp'; and
• approves a new vehicle standard for headlamps.

Extent of consultation

Formal consultation on the amendment proposals began in October 2010 when the NZ Transport Agency released the public consultation (yellow) draft of the amendment Rule for comment. The NZ Transport Agency sent a letter or emailed advice about the availability of the yellow draft to about 950 groups and individuals who had registered their interest in the Rule. The availability of the draft amendment Rule was publicised in the daily newspapers in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, in selected regional daily newspapers and in the New Zealand Gazette.

The NZ Transport Agency received 25 submissions on the draft amendment Rule. The submissions were taken into account in redrafting the amendment Rule before the amendment Rule was submitted to Cabinet, and then to the Minister of Transport for signature.

Section 1     Application

1.1     Title

1.1(1)     This Rule is Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting Amendment 2011.

1.1(2)     This Rule amends Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting 2004.

1.2     Date when Rule comes into force

This Rule comes into force on 1 April 2011.

Section 2     Amendments to Rule requirements

2.1     Scope of the Rule

Clause 1.2 is amended by inserting the following subclause:

• “1.2(4)     Nothing in this Rule prevents a vehicle being fitted with a light source that is a necessary part of equipment required or permitted by any enactment to be fitted to a vehicle.”

2.2     General safety requirements

2.2(1)     Clause 2.1 is amended by substituting the following for subclause 2.1(1):

• “2.1(1)     Lighting equipment fitted to a motor vehicle or a vehicle of Class AA must comply with the general fitting and performance requirements in 2.1A.”

2.2(2)     Clause 2.1 is amended by revoking subclauses 2.1(3), 2.1(4), 2.1(5), 2.1(13), 2.1(15), 2.1(16) and 2.1(17).

2.3     Insertion of new clause for general fitting and performance requirements

Section 2 is amended by inserting the following clause:

• “2.1A     General fitting and performance requirements
• “2.1A(1)     Lighting equipment fitted to a motor vehicle or a vehicle of Class AA must be:
  • “(a)     capable of providing sufficient illumination, light output or light reflection to:
    • “(i)     fulfil its intended purpose; and
    • “(ii)     enable the vehicle to which it is fitted to be operated safely on a road; and
  • “(b)     correctly aligned; and
  • “(c)     fitted in a position and perform in a way that is appropriate for the equipment and the vehicle.
• “2.1A(2)     The light emitted from a lamp must be steady unless otherwise specified in this Rule or any other enactment.
• “2.1A(3)     The light emitted from a flashing lamp required or permitted under this Rule must flash at a fixed frequency.
• “2.1A(4)     If the lighting equipment that is fitted to a motor vehicle is activated by an anti-theft car alarm, 2.1A(2) and 2.1A(3) do not apply.
• “2.1A(5)     The light emitted by lighting equipment must be visible under clear atmospheric conditions from the distances specified in this Rule.
• “2.1A(6)     Lamps (except direction-indicator lamps and beacons) fitted as a pair to the front or to the rear of a motor vehicle must:
  • “(a)     be symmetrically mounted as far towards each side of the vehicle as practicable; and
  • “(b)     except as provided in 2.1A(7), emit light of similar intensity when the pair is operated; and
  • “(c)     except as provided in 2.1A(7), emit light of similar colour when the pair is operated.
• “2.1A(7)     Despite 2.1A(6), a pair of lamps that is providing one lighting function may temporarily emit light of unequal intensity or colour where necessary for the safe operation of different lighting functions being provided by one or more light sources within a common lamp body.
• “2.1A(8)     The colour of light emitted from a lamp directly visible from the front of a vehicle must not be red unless otherwise specified in this Rule or any other enactment.
• “2.1A(9)     The colour of light emitted from a lamp directly visible from the rear of a vehicle must be substantially red or amber unless otherwise specified in this Rule or any other enactment.”

2.4     Approved vehicle standards

Subclause 2.2(4) is amended by inserting “2.1A,” before “3.3” in paragraph (a).

2.5     Fitting and performance requirements for headlamps

2.5(1)     Subclause 3.3(1) is amended by inserting “unless 3.3(1A) applies” after “ground”.

2.5(2)     Clause 3.3 is amended by inserting the following subclause:

• “3.3(1A)     The dipped-beam headlamp in 3.3(1) may be positioned at a height exceeding 1.2 m from the ground if an implement used for road maintenance (for example a snowplough or a road-sweeper) fitted to the front of the vehicle would obscure lamps placed at 1.2 m or less from the ground.”

2.6     Fitting and performance requirements for stop lamps

2.6(1)     Clause 4.3 is amended by substituting the following for subclause 4.3(1):

• “4.3(1)     Subject to 4.3(2), a vehicle of Group A, Class LA or Class LB may be fitted with one or two stop lamps at the rear of the vehicle.”

2.6(2)     Clause 4.3 is amended by substituting the following for subclause 4.3(7):

• “4.3(7)     A motor vehicle of Group T (other than one in Schedule 3) that was first registered in New Zealand:
  • “(a)     on or after 1 April 2012, must be fitted with one or two pairs of stop lamps;
  • “(b)     before 1 April 2012, must be fitted with the following stop lamps at the rear of the vehicle if the vehicle's construction, equipment or loading prevents either the stop-lamp signals of the towing vehicle, or arm signals given by the driver of the towing vehicle, from being seen from behind the vehicle combination:
    • “(i)     one lamp or one or two pairs of lamps if the vehicle was registered in New Zealand before 1 January 1978;
    • “(ii)     one or two pairs of lamps if the vehicle was registered in New Zealand on or after 1 January 1978 and before 1 April 2012.”

2.6(3)     Clause 4.3 is amended by revoking subclause 4.3(10).

2.7     Fitting and performance requirements for high-mounted stop lamps

2.7(1)     Subclause 5.3(1) is amended by deleting “or 5.3(3)”.

2.7(2)     Clause 5.3 is amended by revoking subclause 5.3(3).

2.8     Safety requirements for direction-indicator lamps

Clause 6.2 is amended by substituting the following for paragraph 6.2(5)(d):

• “(d)     flash at approximately equal frequency.”

2.9     Fitting and performance requirements for direction-indicator lamps

2.9(1)     Clause 6.3 is amended by substituting the following for subclause 6.3(1):

• “6.3(1)     A vehicle of Group A, Class LA or Class LB, or a motor vehicle of Class LC, LD or LE first registered in New Zealand before 1 January 1978, may be fitted with two direction-indicator lamps to the front, and two direction-indicator lamps to the rear, of the vehicle.”

2.9(2)     Clause 6.3 is amended by substituting the following for subclause 6.3(4):

• “6.3(4)     A motor vehicle of Group T:
  • “(a)     may be fitted with two or four direction-indicator lamps to the front of the vehicle; and
  • “(b)     if first registered in New Zealand on or after 1 April 2012, must be fitted with two or four direction-indicator lamps to the rear of the vehicle; and
  • “(c)     if first registered in New Zealand before 1 April 2012:
    • “(i)     may be fitted with two or four direction-indicator lamps to the rear of the vehicle; and
    • “(ii)     if the vehicle's construction, equipment or loading prevents an arm signal given by the driver of the towing vehicle from being seen from behind the vehicle combination, must be fitted with two or four direction-indicator lamps to the rear of the vehicle.”

2.9(3)     Subclause 6.3(10) is amended by inserting “, or a forklift” after “Schedule 3”.

2.9(4)     Clause 6.3 is amended by revoking subclause 6.3(11).

2.9(5)     Subclause 6.3(16) is amended by deleting “6.3(11) or”.

2.10     Fitting and performance requirements for side-marker lamps

2.10(1)     Clause 7.5 is amended by substituting the following for subclause 7.5(3):

• “7.5(3)     A motor vehicle, or vehicle combination, that is less than 6 m in length must not be fitted with side-marker lamps.”

2.10(2)     Clause 7.5 is amended by revoking subclause 7.5(5).

2.11     Fitting and performance requirements for end-outline marker lamps

2.11(1)     Clause 7.6 is amended by inserting the following after subclause 7.6(1):

• “7.6(1A)     The fitting and performance of end-outline marker lamps on motor vehicles manufactured before 1 April 2011 must comply with either:
  • “(a)     subclauses 7.6(2) to 7.6(4); or
  • “(b)     subclauses 7.6(6) to 7.6(9).
• “7.6(1B)     The fitting and performance of end-outline marker lamps on motor vehicles manufactured on or after 1 April 2011 must comply with 7.6(6) to 7.6(9).”

2.11(2)     Clause 7.6 is amended by substituting the following for subclause 7.6(5):

• “7.6(5)     A vehicle must not be fitted with any end-outline marker lamps unless it is a vehicle described in 7.6(2), 7.6(3), 7.6(4), 7.6(6), 7.6(7), 7.6(8) or 7.6(9).”

2.11(3)     Clause 7.6 is amended by adding the following subclauses:

• “7.6(6)     A heavy motor vehicle (other than one of Group T) that exceeds 2.1 m in overall width must be fitted with two forward-facing, and two rearward-facing, end-outline marker lamps that indicate the height of the vehicle.
• “7.6(7)     A heavy motor vehicle (other than one of Group T) or a vehicle combination that exceeds 2.1 m in overall width and with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 12,000 kg may be fitted with a maximum of twelve forward-facing and six rearward-facing end-outline marker lamps.
• “7.6(8)     A heavy motor vehicle that exceeds 1.8 m in overall width (other than one described in 7.6(7)) may be fitted with a maximum of six forward-facing and four rearward-facing end-outline marker lamps.
• “7.6(9)     A light motor vehicle that exceeds 1.8 m in overall width may be fitted with a maximum of four forward-facing and two rearward-facing end-outline marker lamps.”

Section 3     Amendment to Definitions

3.1     Substitution of definition

Part 2 is amended by substituting the following for the definition of ‘headlamp’:

• “Headlamp
• “(a)     for a vehicle that is not a cycle, means a lamp that is:
  • “(i)     designed to illuminate the road ahead of the vehicle; and
  • “(ii)     a dipped-beam headlamp, a main-beam headlamp, or a combination of the two;
• “(b)     for a cycle, means a lamp that is:
  • “(i)     forward-facing; and
  • “(ii)     sufficiently brilliant to be visible in normal atmospheric conditions for a distance of at least 100 m when it is switched on.”

Section 4     Amendment to Schedules

4.1     Amendment to Schedule 1, Vehicle standards for lighting equipment

Schedule 1 is amended by inserting, in the appropriate place, the following standard for headlamps:

• “UN/ECE Regulation No. 123, Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Adaptive Front Lighting Systems (AFS) for Motor Vehicles (E/ECE 324-E/ECE/TRANS/505/Add. 122)”.