Roof Top Lights

Yes, still so in Qld. High beams & additional headlights (what QT and the ADR's call long range driving lights) not to be used within 200 metres of any other vehicle, with the additional proviso of not to annoy the driver of any other vehicle, or interfere with the safe operation of any other vehicle. QT officers can't agree on the legality of roof top installations, whether they can be used on public roads, or on the method and location of switching. I asked four of them and got four different answers. A traffic copper admitted he didn't know if they were now legal, but recommended they not be used on public roads because of the above provisos, as did another QT inspector. Because of their uncertainty and the fact that my LR roof bars are repeatedly pruning roadside trees, I decided not to go ahead. I fitted a Hella 1508 searchlight to the bullbar instead. I have enough trouble with officialdom about SI registration when I take my 1928 Dodge for a drive and decided I did not need more roadside arguments with half-informed bureaucrats and coppers, and also the very real possibility of suburban trees damaging the lights.

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Originally Posted by V8Ian

Unless it changed quite recently, I believe in Qld it still states 200m. Has any one else noticed that a lot of newer cars dazzle even on low beam, current Falcon springs to mind?

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Originally Posted by Numpty's Missus

Yep...I'm with you on this Ian
I'm sure it's still 200m in Qld and it is way too close
I dip my lights far further ahead (or behind) than that......

I find even on low beam the lights seem to be too bright

When we had the Mazda a bloke tried to run me off the road because he thought I still had high beam on, and was always getting people flashing their high beam at me....seems the lights were poorly adjusted. As soon as we got that sorted the silly behaviour stopped :D

Maybe some of those bright lights need a little readjustment?

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When I picked up my brand new (24kms on the clock) AU3 falcon ute on a friday night and picked up my daugter and headed for the farm, 230kms away in Merrijig.

Got just outside Merton and was pulled over by the coppers who I knew were following me because I was apparently driving along with my high beams on.

He also said I was speeding (while sitting behind 2x100kmh speed limited trucks and him behind me for about 12 to 15kms) yet I was using the cruise control and set it to about 96km because of the traffic ahead of me.

The speeding they let go, on his readout it said 108kmh but I said to him that it probably was when he pulled out and tried to catch me that he hit 108kmh and although getting a bit hot under the collar accepted that but then wrote out a canary and fixed it to my windscreen and said well if the cars not rw then Ford will pay the bill.

Next day at 9am I was at the ford dealer asking please explain, we put it on the light wall and what do you know, 25mm under what they were meant to be.

The ford man said "well it's un roadworthy, the lights are too low, not too high" and laughed.

I got a report and went around to the cop shop, got the Canary removed and asked one of the local coppers to give the report to the other copper and put it somewhere appropriate :angel:

The moral of tis story, modern lights are brighter than what they should be, HID lowbeams (which are legal by the way, I found out today) should only be used in reflectors that are designed to take them or they will in most cases direct more light in the wrong places as they are designed to direct a lot less light than they are.

As far as dipping lights, Im constantly dipping my lights when I see the glow over a crest but on a long stretch I normally wait until I think it is appropriate or drop out the driving lights first and then the highs when I get closer as a lot of the long stretch stuff you cant see the animals and things that will jump out in front of you until it's too late if you cantr see.

I normally get flashed a bit in Casper more due to my standard lights are rewired to have direct power so they work a bit better but are also set a bit low to try and limit the annoyance to other drivers but I can only drop them so much before they are only usefull around town.

I dont use the roof lights when there is a fair bit of on coming traffic and im not planning on it but they are very usefull, I used them this morning on the golf course and I can see sooooooooo much more than with just the driving lights on the bull bar.:D

In Victoria i asked and was told roof mounted is a big no and other lights must have at least 200 millimeters gap from there centres. As for foggies on you roof well lets say they will be as handy as a ashtray on a motorbike. Fit the foggies as low as possible

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Originally Posted by bussy1963

In Victoria i asked and was told roof mounted is a big no and other lights must have at least 200 millimeters gap from there centres. As for foggies on you roof well lets say they will be as handy as a ashtray on a motorbike. Fit the foggies as low as possible

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How long ago, the lighting laws have just recently been revised in Vic, Im waiting on getting a copy of the form I saw today.

The photo copier wasnt working at my mates factory today but as soon as I can get a copy I will try to scan it and put it up.

It doesnt actually say that they are a no no but there are limits on the height of the lighting fitted to the vehicle.

Im with you on the fog lights, they need to be under the fog to work.

If any of you go to Vicroads to ask a question, always ask to see where it is written, 90% of the time the people behind the counter dont really know when things get changed/updated and a couple of times ive asked to see something and the counter assistant was surprised to find out that it had changed.

Lighting and trailer rego stuff is a bit of a grey area and can be translated differently quite easilly as well sometimes.

Well.. Sent Service Tas an email

This is the reply I got

"Fitting extra spot lights on your vehicle is possible provided, the only time they can be illuminated is whist the vehicles high beam is operating. They can only come on with high beam and MUST go off when the high beam goes off.The lights be fitted in pairs and adjusted so they do not dazzle other road users or drivers.This is not a recommended practice as they will dazzle other road users if you come over a crest in the road and haven't seen the vehicle coming toward you."

So looks like the lights will be going on :)

Also asked about forest wires for anyone who is interested

"As for the wires you wish to fit they would not be approved (illegal) for use whilst on any public street including state forests, beaches,tracks, etc. "

:(

Thanks

Here is the Vicroads vehicle standards information sheet 10.......Vehicle lighting.

Page 18 (section 7.1) clearly states that there is no height restricton to the fitment of main beam lights.

There is heaps of great info there, I recomend you down load and read if your in Vic if your thinking about all this sort of thing.

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rd...E4/0/VSI10.pdf

Also interesting is that you are allowed to use your highs up to 200m behind and on coming to traffic....I dont think I will do that as I will end up having a head on.

You must have 1 set of main beam lights that comply with ADR 46 but up to 2 other pairs (and must be pairs) may be fitted.

There you go, told you I would find it :D

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Originally Posted by mcrover

Here is the Vicroads vehicle standards information sheet 10.......Vehicle lighting.

Page 18 (section 7.1) clearly states that there is no height restricton to the fitment of main beam lights.

There is heaps of great info there, I recomend you down load and read if your in Vic if your thinking about all this sort of thing.

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rd...E4/0/VSI10.pdf

Also interesting is that you are allowed to use your highs up to 200m behind and on coming to traffic....I dont think I will do that as I will end up having a head on.

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Yes the 200m is still in the books.
Ironically though there is another law, more recent, which makes it an offence to 'dazzle' other drivers.

Considering a HID spotlight can do this over a mile it makes the other law redundant somewhat!
You must have 1 set of main beam lights that comply with ADR 46 but up to 2 other pairs (and must be pairs) may be fitted.

There you go, told you I would find it :D[/QUOTE]