If you have bought a new trailer, there is no way around it; trailer lighting. To ensure safety on public roads, it is very important that your trailer has high-quality lighting that will not let you down when driving on the motorway in the dark, for example. In this blog, we will take you through the rules governing lighting on a trailer. We will discuss which lights are compulsory by law, which categories are compulsory and which categories are optional for your trailer.
Trailer lighting legislation
What requirements must the lighting of a trailer meet according to legislation on public roads? The definitive answer to this question has been drawn up by the RDW (Dutch Government Department for Road Traffic) and can be found in the Vehicle Regulations, Article 5.12.51.
Lighting requirements for trailers and interchangeable towed machines.
The lighting on a trailer must meet the following requirements;
- Two lights at the front of the trailer, if the vehicle is wider than 1600m;
- Direction indicators on both rear left and right sides;
- Rear lights on both the left and right sides;
- Rear lights on both the left and right sides;
- Licence plate lighting to ensure good visibility of the licence plate in the dark;
- Two white retro-reflectors at the front of the vehicle if the vehicle was put into service after 31 December 1997;
- Amber/orange side-marker lamps on the long side of the vehicle;
- Two front position lamps and two rear position lamps if the vehicle was put into service after 31 December 1997 and is wider than 2.10 m, or put into service before 1 January 1998 and is wider than 2.60 m;
- A reflector triangle at the rear of the trailer;
- Two front position lamps and two rear position lamps if the vehicle was put into service after 31 December 1997 and is wider than 2.10 m, or put into service before 1 January 1998 and is wider than 2.60 m;
- One reversing lamp if the vehicle was put into service after 31 December 2012;
- Line marking at the rear, if the vehicle is wider than 2.10m, was put into service after 31 December 2012 and the sum of the permitted axle loads exceeds 3,500kg; Additional permanent requirements, Article 153, apply;
31 december 2012 in gebruik is genomen en de som van de toegestane aslasten meer bedraagt dan 3.500 kg; hierbij is Aanvullende permanente eisen, artikel 153, van toepassing; - Line marking on the side if the vehicle is longer than 6.00 m, was put into service after 31 December 2012 and the sum of the permitted axle loads exceeds 3,500 kg; additional permanent requirements, Article 153, apply.
Is licence plate lighting on a trailer mandatory?
If your question is not listed above and you are looking for a suitable answer, please feel free to contact our technical experts. They will be happy to assist you with all your questions regarding LED license plate lighting, trailer wiring diagrams, and the various connections associated with it.
If you do not comply with these rules, for example by installing incorrect or no licence plate lighting on your trailer, this can result in a fine. In the TRALERT® range we also have combination rear lights with integrated licence plate lighting.
Are side lights on a trailer mandatory?
As already described above, it is compulsory to fit side-marker lights on your trailer if the vehicle was put into use after 31 December 1997 and is longer than 6.00 m. The side-marker lights are also compulsory on the trailer. The additional permanent requirements of the RDW apply here. These additional requirements state the following.
Where should the side-marker lamps be fitted on the vehicle?
According to the rules for trailer lighting, side-marker lamps must be installed on each side of the trailer. They must be positioned on the trailer in the following way.
Installation of side-marker lamps:
If the vehicle is longer than 6.00 m, one side-marker lamp and one retro-reflector must be fitted to the trailer. This is mounted in the middle third of the vehicle. Furthermore, it is important that the mutual distance between the side-marker lamps and the retroreflectors does not exceed 4.00 m. In addition, the distance from the most distant point to the most distant point of the trailer must not exceed 4.00 m. In addition, the distance from the most forward position of the side-marker lamp and the retro-reflector to the extreme front of the vehicle must not exceed 4.00 metres. Finally, the distance between the most rearward side-marker lamp and the most rearward retro-reflector to the extreme rear of the vehicle must not exceed 1.00 m.
An exception to this is that if the vehicle length is not more than 6 m, also known as a bare chassis, then, when the vehicle is divided in three equal parts, one side-marker lamp is located on the front third and one side-marker lamp on the rear third of the vehicle length. In this situation one side-marker lamp is sufficient.
Furthermore, the side-marker lamps and the amber retro-reflectors must be fitted at a height of not less than 0.25m and not more than 1.5m above the road surface. If it is not possible due to the construction of the vehicle, the side-marker lamps may be installed at a height of more than 1.5 m. However, they may not be installed higher than this. However, they may not be placed higher than 2.10 m above the road surface.
Is a rear fog light obligatory on a trailer?
Depending on the type of trailer you have, the rules regarding the presence of fog lights may vary. The rules for trailers up to 750kg differ from the rules for trailers heavier than 750kg (with their own license plate). Below, the rules regarding trailer lighting are further specified.
Rules on trailer lighting for trailers up to 750 kg
According to the lighting regulations for trailers up to 750 kg, trailers must be fitted with one or two rear fog lights as of 1 July 2006. This applies to all trailers, regardless of the year of construction. There is one exception to this rule, namely that if the drawing vehicle does not have a rear fog light, the trailer does not need to have one.
Rules on trailer lighting for trailers up to 750 kg
The category of trailers that have a higher maximum permitted mass of 750 kg and therefore have their own registration plates must have at least one or two rear fog lights fitted to the vehicle. This only applies if they were built after 31 December 1997. If the trailer was built before this date, other trailer lighting rules apply. In this case, the trailer does not have to be fitted with a rear fog light.
Welke kleur is een mistachterlicht voor een aanhanger?
The rear fog light is red and is usually mounted on the left side of the trailer. The rear fog light is a very bright light with the purpose to be well visible on public roads when there is thick fog. The bright red colour of the rear fog light ensures that your trailer is clearly visible, even in bad weather conditions.
On which side should the rear fog light be mounted on a trailer?
In general, when a trailer has one rear fog light, it is placed in the middle or to the left of the middle at the rear of the vehicle. If the trailer has two rear fog lights, these are placed on the left and right rear of the vehicle.
Is contour lighting compulsory according to the rules on trailer lighting?
Having contour lights on a trailer is compulsory under certain circumstances. Before we delve deeper into what contour lighting is and what rules apply, it is good to answer another question first. What is contour lighting? Contour lighting is a synonym for LED marking lights. This category of LED lights on a trailer can be found on the front, side and rear of the trailer. When we talk about the legal requirements for contour lighting on a trailer, the following rules apply.
Contour illumination on front and rear of trailer
For trailers wider than 2.10 metres, two marker lights must be fitted at both the front and rear of the trailer. As normally, the colour of the front of the trailer must be white and the colour of the LED marking lights at the rear must be red.
Contour illumination on front and rear of trailer
Orange/amber-coloured LED markings must be placed on the side of the trailer if the trailer is longer than six (6) metres.
Which reflectors are mandatory on a trailer?
Reflectors The purpose of the reflectors is to make the trailer more visible in addition to the lighting. Reflectors also enable other road users to better estimate the width and length of the trailer. This may mean that it is not always clearly visible on a dark road. Reflectors are compulsory for every trailer.
Mandatory reflectors on a trailer:
- Two (2) white reflectors on the front (not triangular). These reflectors must be mounted at least 250 mm and not more than 900 mm from the ground;
- One (1) orange/yellow reflector on both sides of the trailer (not triangular). These reflectors must be mounted at least 250 mm and not more than 900 mm from the ground. An additional rule for lighting on trailers is that the reflectors must not be more than one metre from the rear. There must also be no more than three metres between the reflectors on the side.
- Two (2) red reflectors at the rear. The red reflectors must be mounted at least 350 mm high from the ground and may not be higher than 1500 mm. There must be at least 600 mm between the reflectors. For trailers that are narrower than 1300 mm, there must be at least 400 mm between the two reflectors.
If you want to make your trailer even more visible, it is also possible to mount extra reflectors on the trailer. This is not compulsory according to the rules for lighting on a trailer, but it is certainly possible. However, it is strongly recommended to use the correct distances. In general, this is not very strictly controlled, but it is good to stick to the rules. Besides reflectors, you also have reflective tape. This looks good on a trailer and can also ensure even better visibility.
Types of reflectors on a trailer
Reflectors come in different sizes and shapes. The shape of reflectors is important because it contains different functions. It is also important to mount the right reflector in the right place. Reflectors are mainly found in three shapes, namely round, rectangular and triangular. The round and rectangular reflectors are supplied in different colours. The round reflector is available in the colours red, orange/yellow and white, the rectangular reflector is available in the colours orange/yellow and white and the mandatory triangular reflector is only made in the colour red. Some LED lamps in our range have the reflector already built in. Take for example the VC-2000 or the VC-2701B5CAN.
Trailer lighting compulsory?
LED side marker lights on trailers up to a maximum width of 1.6m are not mandatory according to the trailer lighting regulations. However, it is important to indicate the width of trailers in this category differently. This is done through the reflectors described above. When a trailer is wider than 1.6m, side marker lights are mandatory.
Connecting trailer lights: how does it work?
In this blog, you have read all about the different rules that apply to lighting on a trailer. Besides having lights, it is also very important to connect them in the right way. There are various types of cables and connections that apply. Do you want to know more about the connection of trailer lighting? And the corresponding wiring diagrams? Then read our other article about trailer lighting.
Want more information? We are happy to help
At TRALERT® we are constantly writing new relevant information from the industry. As a supplier of LED vehicle lighting, service and quality are of paramount importance to us. In addition, as a specialist we always strive to be the first to come up with the new rules regarding lighting. If you are missing any information in our articles, please let us know. We will be happy to answer your questions.
Do you have questions about our product range or are you looking for specific LED lighting for your trailer? Then feel free to contact our technical experts. They will be happy to help you find the right LED lighting for your vehicle.
The choice of TRALERT®
If you are looking for lighting for your trailer, we recommend this complete set from TRALERT®. The set includes taillights, clearance lights, license plate lights, and wide lights, allowing you to not only drive safely but also stylishly with our thoughtful selection.
Better Light Work Safer!
