Thread: Spot or Flood light bar up under roof rack? NSW roof light legality?

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Who said anything about properly? Which, of course, is another reason why annual inspections are pretty much a waste of time.

John

Hehe i was thinking about stating that myself...

Cheers

Dan

Interesting thread.
I had thought it was only illegal to use roof mounted lights on the road, I didn't realise it was also illegal in some states to even have them fitted.
As for annual inspections, Queensland doesn't require them either. Main drawback of this is the number of vehicles running around the city with only one headlight as the driver hasn't realised because of the bright street lights.

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

.........
As for annual inspections, Queensland doesn't require them either. Main drawback of this is the number of vehicles running around the city with only one headlight as the driver hasn't realised because of the bright street lights.

Again, I doubt this has anything to do with annual inspections. I have also noticed a lot of cars driving round with one headlight - and I live in NSW!

But I do think that they are more common than they used to be, although I am not sure why. But my son has an I30, and he replaces headlight bulbs four or five times a year. Possibly has something to do with the fact that many current cars have systems that shut lights off when you turn off the ignition, leading owners to leave them on all the time, encouraged by signs everywhere encouraging people to do so. This means that lights are switched on and off far more often than they used to be.

It is possible that current styling may result in bulbs having less ventilation than they used to.

John

Does he replace them with genuine? I have a 2012 i30 and leave the lights on auto and have never had an issue. I have only had the car 6 months but still, your son would have changed a couple by now

On my old camry i would use SCA bulbs and be replacing them at least once a year. Mechanic told me to use genuine and they lasted heaps longer.


Though I bet you now I've said something one will go...

Cheers

Dan

Originally Posted by Homestar

Sorrry Baz, but I'm glad they don't follow suit and do this personally, what a PITA for absolutely nothing. Why don't the other states and Territories follow SA and Vic's lead and dump yearly rego checks?

Vicorads has said publically they won't do this as the benefits are just not there and it is just and extra cost to the consumer. Their own figures - backed up national and international studies show that unroadworthy cars are only a tiny percentage - less than one half of one percent - of the cause of road accidents. There is heaps better bang for buck options at reducing the road toll and injuries. Spending so much to reduce a 1/2 percentage to what - 1/4 percentage? with all that money?

Yes, bald tyres and dodgy brakes aren't safe and need fixing, but people cause almost all accidents, not unroadworthy cars.

Look at the amount of time and effort people in NSW go to to 'dodge' certain aspects of the system - swapping wheels with a mate, bogging up the smallest rust hole lest you suffocate on the exhause fumes (try driving a 101 with the Tilt up ) etc. There's just no point that I can see for all this. I'm not just saying this as a 'I don't have roadworthy vehciles so I think it's a crap idea' all my vechiles - including the Landrovers - are all roadwrothy, or very close to it, but it's just the extra cost it adds to the whole system - for no gain - that makes no sense and is a bad idea IMO.

And don't get me started on trailer and caravan rego in NSW...

I certainly hope Vicroads and SA stick to their guns on this one...

Sorry to unload on you mate - I'll sit back now and wait for the return fire.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Yes. Having lived long term in both NSW and Victoria, there is no reason to believe vehicles' roadworthiness is significantly affected by annual inspections or their absence, and the statistics back this up.

Only a tiny percentage of accidents have vehicle defects as a significant factor, and of that tiny percentage the vast majority of them are tyre defects, either inflation or amount of tread. And inflation can change in a matter of hours, and tyres that have a legal amount of tread when inspected can be bald a month later - not long ago I was able to point out to the driver an illegal front tyre on a police car parked nose in in the main street of Dubbo.

The annual inspection provides a regular source of income for mechanics, and is a pain for drivers and owners, but there is no evidence to show that it enhances road safety.

Even if defective vehicles were a significant risk factor, the annual inspections would do almost nothing to improve this.

Probably the most effective regular 'inspection' would be an annual or biennial driving test, similar to that required for pilots (although there seems to be very little evidence, if any, to show that this reduces accident rates!), but this would be electorally untenable.

John

I agree, either way I don't care, just pick a system, the states and territories have to come to an agreement, there has to be other options, the country needs a national set of laws covering motor vehicles, what we have now is ludicrous.

Really the Police should at least use some common sense when it comes to interstate vehicles, fining interstate vehicle that comply in one State but not the other is just plain petty.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

I'm not making a statement Mick, merely asking for clarification.
Using the logic that vehicles only have to obay the rules of their state of origin, do out of state vehicles in SA not have to comply with the 40 kph limit in the vicinity of emergency vehicles with operating flashing lights?

I wouls suggest no one go past red/blues at 40 inSA our legislation is 25km/ph past red/ blues no matter which way you are travelling!

So mustbe 25 at first set red/blues until passed last set..

If only one set must be 25 before and after them ...in a distance safe for all attending (what that is is subject to interpretation)

Originally Posted by Redback

Really the Police should at least use some common sense when it comes to interstate vehicles, fining interstate vehicle that comply in one State but not the other is just plain petty.

in the past i have found interstate police pretty good with this.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Again, I doubt this has anything to do with annual inspections. I have also noticed a lot of cars driving round with one headlight - and I live in NSW!

But I do think that they are more common than they used to be, although I am not sure why. But my son has an I30, and he replaces headlight bulbs four or five times a year. Possibly has something to do with the fact that many current cars have systems that shut lights off when you turn off the ignition, leading owners to leave them on all the time, encouraged by signs everywhere encouraging people to do so. This means that lights are switched on and off far more often than they used to be.

It is possible that current styling may result in bulbs having less ventilation than they used to.

John

Our Mazda 2 has auto headlights so they are left on auto all the time, but obviously switch off when the car is off. Doesn't seem to be a problem so far.
I reckon there are some people who never drive drive outside the city and so never notice a headlight is blown.
If a car is under warranty and serviced regularly and properly that should keep it roadworthy, but some are not, particularly once they are out of warranty.
Someone I know bought a little Ford Fiesta cheap recently and it appears to have not been serviced in a LLOOOONNNGG time! He's getting a lot of work done to get it fixed up.