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[Worf]

OT, but would apply to "our" vehicles.
I have a 1954 Austin I have been restoring and it now needs to go to the paint shop for top coat. It is taxed and insured and is road legal mechanically, but currently has no lights or indicators (or wipers) ready for spraying. Horn brakes and tyres all good.
I live in a very rural area and only have to drive 2 miles to get it there, but knowing my luck there will be a plod round the first corner.

What is the minimum I have to add to make it road legal? (hand signals etc) If I tow it would the requirements be any different.  Seems overkill to hire a trailer for 2 miles.

Thanks in advance!

[island dormy]

  Hi Worf

  I am not sure about the rules in merry old England but over here in the great white north  (Canada) we are still allowed to drive cars using hand signals in the daylight hours. Of course none of the new young drivers have a clue what they mean anymore.

  Or maybe have somebody you trust drive behind you to the paint shop.

  Victor

[GlenAnderson]

I’d just drive it to be honest.

I think, legality wise, all you actually need are brake lights during the hours of daylight.

[Craig T]

I'd be tempted to simply go for it too.

Do it in day light hours and get a friend to follow in another car to keep any tailgating German car drivers away from you.

Craig.

[ChrisJC]

I would do it on a sunny Saturday morning. All of Heddlu Gogledd Cymru will be up the Llanberis Pass towing away the Saes !

Chris.

[Worf]

I would do it on a sunny Saturday morning. All of Heddlu Gogledd Cymru will be up the Llanberis Pass towing away the Saes !

Chris.

Too true  diolch

[Worf]

Thanks for the comments. Yes, I think I will go for it. Brake lights are a 2 min job. I had better find a rear view mirror also.

[Wittsend]

What's the worse they can do to you

It's hardly a serious crime.

Mind how you go
 

[Exile]

there will be a plod round the first corner.

^ Lucky you!

In rural areas of Essex we've forgorrten what the Police look like.

I'm sure I could drive an uninsured and illegal vehicle to the MOT garage a short distance away, every day for a year, and not get pulled.....

[autorover1]

If you have not front & rear side lights, no brake lights are needed . Extract from MoT manual
Stop lamps are not required on vehicles:

first used before 1 January 1936
that do not have front and rear position lamps, or have such lamps permanently disconnected, painted over or masked that are only used during daylight hours and not used at times of seriously reduced visibility.

[Dopey]

Is there still an MOT for daylight driving and night time driving? I seem to remember years ago there was such a thing If you didnt have working lights, you only needed the break lights to work, and hand signals for driving were fine

[w3526602]

HI,

Its too many years since I pondered on this question.

It used to be that if lamps were fitted, they had to work ... but alternatively, you would be OK if you were driving to a place BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT, where any defect was going to be fixed (I believe that still applies when the journey is to take a vehicle to fix MOT failures, but not to prepare the vehicle for an MOT). Hint ... book your car in for an MOT, and keep a record of that booking. I believe there is NOT a requirement to use the nearest MOT station.

DO NOT TAKE MY WORD THE ABOVE.

There is also something in my mind, that if a lamp is fitted, it must work .... but a b]lamp[/b]" consists of the lamp itself, it's wiring, and a switch. I would hate to argue that in court .... unless I was a Mod (remember them?) riding a Lambretta with dozens of auxilary lights nailed on the front, but not connected. Anybody got a picture from that era?

602

[Wittsend]

 

[Dopey]

The opening scene from "Quadrophenia" (in Goldhawk Road, Shepherds bush) was filmed past my house..

[The Shed]

Was there any point to all those lights n mirrors ?
Or just adding extra weight to an already under-powered vehicle.