Legalities surrounding high level tractor driving lights

[UTV Products]

This I do not know the answer to and a question sparked off by something recently read on Facebook but without conclusion.

Unless it is me just realising their increased presence - there seem to be more tractors with high level high/low beam road lights fitted at belt line level and some customers say it is because of increased use of front hoppers and slurry reels plus more obscuring normal grille headlights. Massey 6100/6200 series and earlier Fendt to name just two have been fitted top cab road lights for a while.

Does anyone know if headlights are road legal at beltline or above height? Maybe there is a clause in the law saying agricultural vehicles are exempt in certain circumstances.

Genuinely interested to hear your take on it along with any reference to the government document stating the legal position.

 

[Mark C]

As long as they are correctly focused and aligned I can’t see there being a problem. JCB and Other backhoe loader manufacturers have had high level headlights on 3cx’s for years

 

[Barleycorn]

I'd like a set of dipping headlights if I could find some.

 

[UTV Products]

I'd like a set of dipping headlights if I could find some.

We have them but not yet passed as road legal. We are working on that aspect but uncertain the timescales to complete.

 

[UTV Products]

As long as they are correctly focused and aligned I can’t see there being a problem. JCB and Other backhoe loader manufacturers have had high level headlights on 3cx’s for years

I agree and guessing aligned and legally approved beam pattern are the key factors.

 

[puntabrava]

I think you will find that people are just fitting whatever and taking no regard to laws. Just because you have some piece of equipment on the front linkage it does not mean that you should switch on front work lights.

 

[Richard98]

I’ve noticed an increasing number of ‘beltline’ headlights fitted to tractors usually next to the front indicator/side lights. A recent demo tractor with front linkage had these lights and a rocker switch in the cab to select either the beltline lights or normal bonnet headlights. I assume they’re just for when front implements block the normal headlights?

 

[cosmagedon]

It's an optional extra to have high level head lights fitted to the grab railes on a New Holland with front linkages, I've retro fitted them to mine. When you switch them on in the cab it switches the normal headlights off and those on.

They look similar to the oval work lights but the reflective backs inside are different.

 

[Matt L]

On CLAAS tractors they are standard when you select a front linkage due to the potential for obstruction. You can select them on or off from a switch in the cab so no need to have them on if your standard lights are not obstructed. Also more useful the. You think if your implement does not obstruct the view of the lights but reflection can dazzle the driver of the tractor. The option to have them on then can also be seen as safety critical enabling view of tractor driver.

 

[UTV Products]

On CLAAS tractors they are standard when you select a front linkage due to the potential for obstruction. You can select them on or off from a switch in the cab so no need to have them on if your standard lights are not obstructed. Also more useful the. You think if your implement does not obstruct the view of the lights but reflection can dazzle the driver of the tractor. The option to have them on then can also be seen as safety critical enabling view of tractor driver.

Interesting and helpful to read thank you

 

[Robt]

Personally, id ask your local HGV testing center. They will know the law rather than what is fitted to get round front implements!

 

[Fish]

Our old 612 and 312 fendts from the 1980s both had dipping head lights fitted on the cab roof ,standard, you just pressed a switch to alternate between cab roof and standard front lights.
Dip, main beam worked as normal by using the indicator stalk.

Even the old tool carrier is the same, which is of the same vintage.

 

[David.]

Plenty of trucks have driving lamps on a bar over the cab, they only work on full beam though?

 

[yellow belly]

There are road rules for height above road and distance from the edge of the vehicle for forward facing lights
Work lights are not legal for road use
If you use light that dazel another road user and cause a death prison is the likely result

 

[Half Pipe]

Personally, id ask your local HGV testing center. They will know the law rather than what is fitted to get round front implements!

Hgvs fitted with snow ploughs etc have headlights mounted higher up

 

[ED.D]

Both Nordic and Tyri supply an led headlight unit that is sold as road legal.older trucks fitted with aux high level head lights over the years. Be good to get some clarity on the subject.

 

[wdah/him]

my steyr 80-90 has high level headlights and as said when they turn on the lower turn off works well.

what I hate is the all the pricks driving around with all work lights on, I will occasionally have the rear work lights on if I have a wide/poorly lite implement behind but turn them off if another vehicle comes up behing until they over take. think I do it out of decency.

seen a post somewhere about that but thought it was about roof mounted worklights not high level headlights

 

[Ukjay]

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/4/made

 

[Bobthebuilder]

case pumas here have headlights on the indicator stalks which have a switch in cab that switches grill headlights off and others on when used, so i presume if factory fitted then they are legal

 

[Matt77]

As a few have said, CNH tractors with front linkage come with them fitted from factory so I’d assumed they are legal, was a little frustrating few years back before I had GPS, I like lots of light when night drilling and used to have main beam on to highlight drill marker, couldn’t have those lights on as well as the pillar ones, so I fitted another set on top, wired up to rears.