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Inside the Vehicle Cab

The details below cover the regulations concerning items within the vehicle cab. However, due to the importance of seat belts from a safety standpoint, this subject is dealt with separately and can be found within this section entitled Seat Belts.

Inside Vehicle Cab 

Information relates to Inside the vehicle cab, including information on the fitment, maintenance and exemptions (where applicable).

  • Windscreen and Wipers 
  • Speedometers 
  • Audible Warning Instruments 

Windscreen and Wipers 

Regulation 34 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 concerns the fitting of windscreens and wipers. 

Every vehicle fitted with a windscreen shall, unless the driver can obtain an adequate view to the front without looking through the windscreen, be fitted with one or more efficient automatic windscreen wipers capable of clearing the windscreen so that the driver has an adequate view of the road in front of both sides of the vehicle and to the front of the vehicle. It must also be fitted with a windscreen washer capable of clearing in conjunction with the wiper, the area of windscreen swept by the wiper of mud or similar deposits. 

Exemptions  

To the requirement for a windscreen washer:

  • An agricultural motor vehicle first used before 1 June 1986 
  • An agricultural motor vehicle first used on or after 1 June 1986 driven at not more than 20 mph 
  • A tracked vehicle 
  • A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 20 mph 
  • A vehicle providing a local service e.g. a bus on a regularly scheduled service route 

Maintenance

Regulation 34(6) Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 states that every wiper and washer required to be fitted shall, whilst the vehicle is being used on a road, be maintained in efficient working order and be properly adjusted. 

Mascots Regulation 53 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 states that no mascot, emblem or other ornamental objects shall be carried by a motor vehicle in any position where it is likely to strike any person with whom the vehicle may collide unless the mascot is not liable to cause injury to such a person by reason of any projection thereon except:

  • Motor vehicles first used before 1st October 1937, 
  • Vehicles which comply with EEC 74/483 or ECE Reg 26.01 

Speedometers Fitting

Regulation 35 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 states that every motor vehicle shall be fitted with a speedometer except:

  • A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph 
  • A vehicle which, at all times, is unlawful to drive at more than 25 mph  
  • An agricultural motor vehicle driven at not more than 20 mph 
  • A motorcycle not exceeding 100cc first used before 1st April 1984, 
  • An invalid carriage first used before 1st April 1984, 
  • A works truck first used before 1st April 1984, 
  • Any vehicle first used before 1st October 1937, 
  • A vehicle fitted with an approved tachograph which is required or not 

For vehicles first used on or after 1st April 1984 the speedometer should be capable of indicating the speed in miles per hour and kilometres per hour. Vehicles may instead comply with EC Regulation (Community Directive) 97/39 or ECE Reg 39. 

These directives stipulate the markings, graduations of the speedometer and refer to 75/443/EEC which specifies the tolerances. 

The indicated speed must never be less than the true speed (it must read exact or high) and between 40km/h and 120km/h, the error must not exceed 10% + 2.5 mph. high (true speed/10 + 4kph). 

This means at a true speed of 25mph or 40km/h the speedometer may read 40/10+4 = 8km/h or 5mph high = 30mph indicated. 

Maintenance

Regulation 36 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 states that the speedometer fitted to a vehicle must be kept free from any obstruction which may prevent it from being easily read and shall at all times it is used on a road be maintained in good working order except if:- 

  • The speedometer became defective during the journey being undertaken, or 
  • Steps have been taken to have the defect remedied by replacement or repair with all reasonable expedition, or 
  • The vehicle is fitted with an approved tachograph which is required to be fitted under the Community Recording Equipment Regulation (offence is under that regulation) 

AUDIBLE WARNING INSTRUMENTS 

Fitting of Horns and Alarms

Regulation 37 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 states that every motor vehicle with a maximum speed of more than 20 mph shall be fitted with an audible warning instrument (horn) except an agricultural motor vehicle unless it is being driven at more than 20 mph. 

The audible warning instrument fitted to a wheeled vehicle first used on or after 1 August 1973 should be continuous and uniform and not strident. 

Nothing in this regulation forbids the use of:

  • A reversing alarm or a boarding aid alarm, 
  • A theft alarm, but it must incorporate a fully maintained 5-minute cut-out switch when fitted to a vehicle first used on or after 1 October 1982 
  • A device used on a bus to summon help for the driver, conductor or inspector, 
  • A device or apparatus (not the two-tone horn) designed to emit a sound for the purpose of informing members of the public that goods are on sale. This is permitted between the hours of 1200 hours and 1900 hours (Regulation 99) 

Use of Horns and Alarms 

Regulation 99 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 states that horns and other warning instruments must not be used:

  • When the vehicle is stationary (other than an emergency involving another vehicle, a reversing alarm or a boarding aid alarm), or 
  • In motion on a restricted road between 2330 hours and 0700 hours 

No person shall sound or cause or permit to be sounded on a road a reversing alarm or a boarding aid alarm unless it is fitted to:

  • A goods vehicle having a maximum gross weight not less than 2000kg 
  • A bus 
  • Engineering plant, a refuse vehicle or a works truck 

They must not emit a sound likely to be confused with that from a pedestrian crossing. A boarding aid alarm means an alarm for a power-operated lift or ramp fitted to a bus to enable wheelchair users to board and alight and designed to warn persons that the lift or ramp is in operation. 

The following link provides guidance and further information. 

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regulation/64/made