Led light bars

[jwilcox]

Government of Western Australia
IB -132C
Vehicle Safety and Standards
Information Bulletin
(Updated August 2017)
FITMENT AND USE OF ADDITIONAL AND OPTIONAL
VEHICLE LIGHTS (LAMPS)
Purpose of this bulletin
This bulletin is to explain the fitment and use of additional driving lights (including LED light
bars), and optional lights that may be fitted to a motor vehicle (excluding motor cycles, side
cars and trikes). In this bulletin, the terms ‘lamps’ and ‘lights’ have the same meaning and are
used interchangeably. Additionally, the terms ‘high-beam’ and ‘main-beam’ have the same
meaning for the purposes of this bulletin.
Additional Driving lights (Driving Lamps)
Additional driving lights (including LED Light Bars) are auxiliary lights that can be fitted to a
vehicle for the sole purpose to provide increased illumination to the road ahead of the vehicle
over a long distance when the vehicle’s head lights are used on high beam.
Additional driving lights are covered by the Australian Design Rule 13/00 (ADR13).
Amendments to ADR13, which has aligned with the alternate international standards now
allow for the fitment of one or more (to a maximum of four) additional driving lights thus
removing the previous requirement of additional driving lights to be fitted in pairs of two or four.
General Requirements
Any additional driving lights fitted to a vehicle must be designed and securely fitted in a way
that:
•minimises the likelihood of injury to a person making contact with the vehicle in an unfortunate event of a crash with a pedestrian;
•does not obstruct the driver’s view of the road and traffic to the front or side of the vehicle;
•the light emitted does not cause discomfort to the driver either directly or indirectly
through devices for indirect vision and/or other reflecting surfaces of the vehicle; and
•must remain switched off when high beam headlights are not in operation; and
•must automatically switch off when high beam headlights are either turned off or the headlamps are dipped.
•Additional driving lights that have daytime running lights incorporated within the
light, please refer to the section within this document titled DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS
to ensure fitment is in compliance with ADR 13/00.
Discomfort includes any glare or reflection that in any way impedes the driver’s
uninterrupted vision or view of the road ahead or to either side of the vehicle.
Additional driving lights (including LED light bars)are designed to complement vehicle high
beams during long distance country driving and therefore are usually installed at the same
level as your vehicle headlights or higher. Additional driving lights may ONLY legally be used
when there are no other vehicles 200 meters in front of your vehicle, either approaching or
moving in the same direction as you. This rule also applies for high beam use (compliance
with regulations 185 and 186 of the Road Traffic Code 2000), though the majority of drivers
will turn off their high beams and, if fitted, additional headlights as soon as another vehicle is
visible ahead at any distance in order to be considerate (see below).

Using headlights on high-beam
(1) Subject to subregulation (2), the driver of a vehicle shall not use the vehicle’s headlights on high
-beam, or allow the vehicle’s headlights to be used on high-beam —
(a) if the driver is driving less than 200 m behind a vehicle travelling in the same direction as the driver; or
(b) if the driver is driving less than 200 m from an oncoming vehicle; or
(c) if the headlights of an oncoming vehicle are dipped.
Using headlights on low-beam when travelling less than 200 m behind another vehicle travelling in the same direction.
Using headlights on low-beam when travelling within 200 m of an oncoming vehicle
Important Note:
Some additional driving lights have the capacity to project a high wattage light beam at a far
greater distance of 200 meters. If fitting a high wattage additional driving light to your
vehicle, you must consider the projected distance of the light beam as this can create a
substantial safety risk for oncoming drivers who may be impacted by such lights at a far
greater distance, and adversely affect vehicles travelling in the same direction in front of your
vehicle.

Fitment of Additional Driving Lights (Including LED Light Bars)
1) Number:Up to a maximum of four (4) additional driving lights
2) Position:At the front of the vehicle
3) and must only be ‘front facing’
4) and not higher than the front edge of the bonnet if fitted to a bull bar or nudge bar.
Fitted symmetrically (same position on both sides of the vehicle).
If installing a single additional driving light (i.e. LED light bar) it must be installed horizontally and located symmetrically about the longitudinal
centre line of the vehicle.
Light colour:White
Operation:
To be used in conjunction with the vehicle's headlights
All additional driving lights must turn off when the vehicle’s headlights are switched to low beam
Note:
Any additional driving lights fitted to the vehicle must not obstruct or
interfere with the light emitted by any of the headlights, indicators or
parking lights fitted to the vehicle.
Attachment points on bull bars and nudge bars
Any additional accessories including additional driving lights must not be installed on top a
bull bar or nudge bar where the additional driving lights are higher than the front edge of the
bonnet, or protruding forward of the bumper bar, bull bar or nudge bar.
The mounting brackets of any additional driving lights must be rounded and must not have
any sharp, pointed or angular edges to ensure that the risk of injury to a pedestrian is
minimised should a pedestrian be hit by the vehicle.

1) Compliant with the requirements of Australian Design Rule 13, and the Road Traffic (Vehicles) Regulations 2014 (WA).
2) An LED light bar is considered to be one driving light if all the LEDs operate together simultaneously. If an LED
light bar has different parts or sections that can be switched on or off independent of other parts or sections, then
each independently controlled section counts as a driving light.
3) At the front of the vehicle. This requirement shall be deemed to be satisfied if the light emitted does not cause
discomfort to the driver either directly or indirectly through devices for indirect vision and/or other reflecting
surfaces of the vehicle.
4) Front facing - these lights must not be fitted to face the opposite direction of the vehicle’s forward propulsion direction
Figure 2
shows the correct way of mounting some additional driving lights in a combination
of ways; note that the vehicles headlights, indicators or parking lights are not obstructed

Optional Front Lights
Optional front lights are any of the following types of lights;
1. Daytime running lights
2. Fog lights
3. Cornering lights
4. External cabin lights
5. Search or work lights
6. HID lights
7. Backlit badges and logos
Some vehicle manufacturers may fit some of these lights as original equipment; if that is the
case the aftermarket fitment of additional lights must not exceed the maximum numbers
listed.
There is no restriction on a vehicle being fitted with all of the listed lights provided that each
of the lights is fully compliant as stated in this document.
General Requirements
Any additional lights fitted to a vehicle must be designed and securely fitted in a way that:
•minimises the likelihood of injury to a person making contact with the vehicle; and
•does not obstruct the driver’s view of the road and traffic to the front or side of the vehicle.
•The light emitted shall not cause discomfort by reflecting off any of the vehicle’s surfaces into the driver’s eyes.

Daytime running lights
Daytime running lights are lights used to increase a vehicles visibility when driving during the day. These lights are available as an optional after
-market accessory or manufactured in some new model vehicles.
The retro fitting of daytime running lights is acceptable provided the lights comply with Australian Design Rule (ADR) 76
and are fitted as per ADR 13.
Colour: White
Number: Two
Position:Fitted symmetrically (same position on both sides of the vehicle) at the front of the vehicle
In height: above the ground not less than 250mm nor more than 1,500mm.
Not more than 400mm from the sides (extreme outer edge) of the vehicle; at least 600mm apart
between the inner edges, may be reduced to 400mm where the overall width of the vehicle is less than 1,300mm.
The angle of the beam may only be outwards 20° and inwards 20° and upwards 10° and downwards 10°.
Daytime running lights shall be switched ON automatically when the device which starts
and/or stops the engine is in a position which makes it possible for the engine to operate.
Daytime running lights shall switch OFF automatically when the front fog lights or headlights
are switched ON, except when the latter are used to give intermittent luminous warnings at short intervals.
Furthermore, all other forward facing lights (as listed above) must not switch on when the
daytime running lights are switched ON.
2. Front fog lights
Front fog lights provide a wide, bar-shaped beam of light with a sharp cutoff (dark above, bright below)
at the top, and are generally aimed and mounted low. They are intended for
use at low speed to increase the illumination directed towards the road surface and verges in
conditions of poor visibility due to rain, fog, dust or snow.

Using fog lights (Road Traffic Code 2000)
(1)
The driver of a vehicle fitted with a front or rear fog light shall not operate the front or
the rear fog light unless the driver is driving in fog or other hazardous weather
conditions causing reduced visibility.
Points: 1 Modified penalty: 2 PU
(2)
In fog, mist or in hazardous weather conditions restricting visibility, the display of light
from a front fog light or front fog lights is sufficient compliance with any obligation to
display a light from a head light or head lights under regulation 182.
(3)
A person shall not drive a motor vehicle, other than a motor cycle, displaying light
from a single front fog light, unless 2 lit lights, complying with the requirements of the
Vehicle Standards, are fitted to the front of the vehicle.
Points: 1 Modified penalty: 2 PU
(4)
A person shall not drive a motor vehicle displaying light from front fog light or front fog
lights, if any other light of a power exceeding 7 watts and capable of showing a white
light to the front is alight.

Points: 1 Modified penalty: 2 PU
The top of the beam must not be higher than the centre of the fog light, when measured 8 metres in front of the vehicle.
Colour:
White or selective yellow
Number:Two
Position:Fitted symmetrically (same position on both sides of the vehicle) at the front of the vehicle;
No higher than the top of the low beam headlights; Not more than 400mm from the sides (extreme outer edge) of the vehicle;
At least 600mm apart; and not less than 250mm above the ground.
Fog lights must be able to be operated independently from the headlights and driving lights.
As a minimum, they must only be able to operate when the park lights are on.
3. Cornering lights
Cornering lights provide extra lateral illumination in the direction of an intended turn or lane
change. These are actuated in conjunction with the turn signals, though they don’t flash and
they may also be wired to illuminate when the vehicle is shifted into reverse gear
Colour:White
or Amber
Number: Two
Position:Fitted symmetrically (same position on both sides of the vehicle) at the front of
the vehicle.
Not more than 400mm from the sides (extreme outer edge) of the vehicle; at
least 600mm apart; and not less than 250mm above the ground.
Not more than 900mm above the ground.The angle of the beam may only be 30° to 60° outwards and upwards 10° and
downwards 10°.No higher than the passing beam (dipped beam) headlamp.
The cornering lights must be connected so that they cannot be activated unless the main-beam headlights
or the dipped-beam headlights are switched ON at the same time.
The cornering lights on one side of the vehicle may only be switched ON automatically when
the direction indicators on the same side of the vehicle are switched ON and/or when the
steering angle is changed from the straight-ahead position towards the same side of the vehicle.
The cornering light shall be switched OFF automatically when the direction indicator is
switched OFF and/or the steering angle has returned in the straight-ahead position.
When the reversing light is switched ON, both cornering lights may be switched on
simultaneously, independently from the steering wheel or direction indicator position.
In this case, the cornering lights shall be switched OFF when the reversing light is switched OFF.
The cornering lights shall not be activated at vehicle speeds above 40 km/h.
4. External cabin lights
These lights are for denoting the presence of a large vehicle to other road users.
Colour:Amber
Presence:Optional on motor vehicles more than 2,100mm wide.
(Prohibited on other vehicles).
Number: Up to 5.
Position:Facing forward, spaced symmetrically above the median longitudinal
plane of the vehicle, not less than 120mm centre to centre fixed to or above the cabin roof.
5. Search or work lights
Additional lights intended to be used for temporary purposes (such as the reading of signs,
handling or adjusting of loads or providing additional illumination in off-road situations) may
be fitted to a vehicle in any location.
Note:
The fitment of LED light bars as work lights facing forward is prohibited unless
installed below the driver’s eyes.
General Requirements
Work lights must be fitted with a tell-tale illuminated labelled rocker switch (see below) to
warn the driver the light is on.
Examples of illuminated labelled rocker switches
Any additional lights as work lights fitted to a vehicle must be designed and securely fitted in
a way that;
•minimises the likelihood of injury to a person making contact with the vehicle; and
•does not obstruct the driver’s view of the road and traffic to the front of the vehicle.
These requirements are all intended to improve the safety of the driver and other road users.
Note:
A driver must not use, or allow to be used, any light fitted to or in the driver's vehicle to
dazzle, or in a way that is likely to dazzle, another road user.

6. High intensity discharge (HID) lights
HID lights produce more light to the amount of power they consume than other light types.
ADRs specify minimum design and performance standards in HID lights for road vehicles.
ADRs mandate specific performance and orientation requirements for such light assemblies
due, in part, to the higher light intensity/output and the potential for these types of lights to
severely dazzle oncoming road users.
Simply retro-fitting original or aftermarket conversions of HID lights and/or light assemblies to
the dipped beam (low beam) circuit of a vehicle does not guarantee that they will comply
with the specific set of ADR performance requirements applicable to the vehicle which may
make them non-compliant for road use.
HID lights producing more than 2000 lumens (a measure of light) may be fitted to dipped
beam (low beam) lights on road vehicles. However, the vehicle’s lights must also align to
ADR13 and have headlight cleaning devices (washer jets or wiper) and have self-levelling
systems to prevent the brighter lights being projected into oncoming vehicles. A vehicle retro
fitted with HID headlights is considered a modified vehicle.
The vehicle is required to be examined and a modification certificate issued and must meet
the full requirements of ADR13 and be fitted with a self-levelling device and a cleaning device.
The road rules prohibit against dazzling another road user with bright vehicle lights. Higher
powered lights with a higher end white colour are not allowed for road use. Commercially
available high performance light products ensure that lighting kits, packages and globes are
marked ‘not for road use’ however, some products available online have no warnings or
consumer information notices.
7. LED headlight replacements globes
Similar to HID lights, LED lights produce more light to the amount of power they consume.
The retro-fitting of aftermarket conversions of LED lights and/or light assemblies to the
dipped beam (low beam) circuit of a vehicle does not guarantee that they will comply with
ADR performance requirements applicable to the vehicle which may make them non-
compliant for road use. The fitting of such lights and/or light assemblies is considered
altering a vehicle from the manufacturer’s specifications which classifies the vehicle as a
modified vehicle. The vehicle is required to be examined to determine if the vehicle meets
the requirements under ADR13.
8. Backlit badges and logos
The Australian Motor Vehicle Certification Board (AMVCB) have recently determined that a
badge fitted to a vehicle which indicates the make/model or other information, which had a
backlight (a ‘backlit badge’),
would not be considered a lamp under Australian Design Rule 13/00 (ADR13).
The Commonwealth Government in conjunction with the States and Territories have
determined and allowed backlit lights if when fitted, meet the requirements below:
•
The light source shall be integrated with the logo/badge;
•The colour of the light source shall be: White to front; Amber to sides; or Red to the rear;
•The light source shall be not more than 60 candela;
•The light source shall not flash;
•The badge and light source shall be fitted more than 200mm from the nearest lamp;
•The light emitted shall not cause discomfort to the driver either directly or indirectly
through the devices for indirect vision and/or other reflecting surfaces of the vehicle;
•The size of the light source shall be within the dimensions of the badge or logo and
not overly large so as to affect the prominence of other mandatory lamps; and
•The light source shall be connected such that it operates with the front lighting
system.
This interpretation applies to all categories of vehicles covered by ADR 13/00.