Why yellow/orange head lamps?

[KaTooMatt]

The law says you may have yellow or amber headlight. By definition the traffic light orange is amber so I use one.

Some claim you may not put something in front of your lens that would diffuse the light. I have looked but can't find this supposed law. Also if it did exist all those stone chip protectors would also be illegal

[TheBear]

it makes the sun reflect at a 32 degree angle to the earth in order for the fairies to produce moon dust

Sounds like nonsense to me.  I was told it is to reflect sunlight away from the Canbus Flux Generator, making it last longer and thereby avoiding having to stop to reset the Canbus Flux Generator constantly.

But to what extent are they legal?

Law states that forward facing lights can be white, yellow or amber as long as lights in the same class are the same colour.

[Kaboef]

FV and MDT, it seems that you havent been around the block to long?

It seems as if your funny comment-o-meter is broken.

[Mzee]

it makes the sun reflect at a 32 degree angle to the earth in order for the fairies to produce moon dust

Sounds like nonsense to me.  I was told it is to reflect sunlight away from the Canbus Flux Generator, making it last longer and thereby avoiding having to stop to reset the Canbus Flux Generator constantly.

But to what extent are they legal?

Law states that forward facing lights can be white, yellow or amber as long as lights in the same class are the same colour.

I need some interpretation here. What does it mean " white, yellow or amber as  long as lights int he same class are the same colour?"

[KaTooMatt]

If you have a triumph with side by side headlights. You must cover both and not just one. They are both headlights. That is a class. In terms of forward facing lights possible classes are indicators, headlights. high beam, low beam (if they're separate), fog lights, spot lights and/or driving lights.

[RobC]

But to what extent are they legal?

From what I have read having Googled "national traffic act" they are not legal and especially so at night.

[KaTooMatt]

Rob what does it say. What is the regulation number I have down loaded the whole act while checking. But I have not found ghe one people refer to.

I take my Orange covers off at night anyway as then I want to see as much as be seen, In the day there is more than enough light and I want to stand out.

[TheBear]

I need some interpretation here. What does it mean " white, yellow or amber as  long as lights int he same class are the same colour?"

Both flickers, same colour.  Both driving lights, same colour.  Both spot, or fog lights. same colour.

But to what extent are they legal?

From what I have read having Googled "national traffic act" they are not legal and especially so at night.

You must have miss-Googled!  

National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act No. 93 of 1996)
National Road Traffic Regulations, 1999
Chapter VI : Fitness of Vehicles
Part II : Equipment on or in respect of vehicles
181. Colour of lights
 
1)  Subject to the provisions of regulation 170(1), 171(1), 172, 175 or 176, no person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle which is fitted with or carries on it a lamp which –

a)  except in the case of a brake anti-lock warning light to the front of a trailer, emits a light which is not white, amber or yellow in colour towards the front;

[RobC]

But to what extent are they legal?

From what I have read having Googled "national traffic act" they are not legal and especially so at night.

You must have miss-Googled!   

National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act No. 93 of 1996)
National Road Traffic Regulations, 1999
Chapter VI : Fitness of Vehicles
Part II : Equipment on or in respect of vehicles
181. Colour of lights
 
1)  Subject to the provisions of regulation 170(1), 171(1), 172, 175 or 176, no person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle which is fitted with or carries on it a lamp which –

a)  except in the case of a brake anti-lock warning light to the front of a trailer, emits a light which is not white, amber or yellow in colour towards the front;

and you missed the night part...

[TheBear]

and you missed the night part...
[/quote]

You sort of said: "From what I have read having Googled "national traffic act" they are not legal and especially so at night. ", i.e. illegal by day, more illegal by night.  The law, as quoted above, does not say either.    

[RobC]

and you missed the night part...

You sort of said: "From what I have read having Googled "national traffic act" they are not legal and especially so at night. ", i.e. illegal by day, more illegal by night.  The law, as quoted above, does not say either.    
[/quote]READ the whole act and you will become enlightened and then realize why I said what I said. Too busy to look it up again myself. There is mention of headlamps not being allowed to be diffused too...

[RobC]

The law says you may have yellow or amber headlight. By definition the traffic light orange is amber so I use one.

Some claim you may not put something in front of your lens that would diffuse the light. I have looked but can't find this supposed law. Also if it did exist all those stone chip protectors would also be illegal

What needs to be done is that bike groups should petition for the use, it does make a bike more visible during the day. But at night it makes the rider see less of what is ahead.
My advise is to stay legal by adding more lights... or ride more dirt...

[Toors]

The law says you may have yellow or amber headlight. By definition the traffic light orange is amber so I use one.

Some claim you may not put something in front of your lens that would diffuse the light. I have looked but can't find this supposed law. Also if it did exist all those stone chip protectors would also be illegal

What needs to be done is that bike groups should petition for the use, it does make a bike more visible during the day. But at night it makes the rider see less of what is ahead.
My advise is to stay legal by adding more lights... or ride more dirt...

to be realistic... when last was somebody fined for using an orange cover?  I take mine off in the dark in any event.

[RobC]

to be realistic... when last was somebody fined for using an orange cover?  I take mine off in the dark in any event.

So? What is the fuss then?

[zebra - Flying Brick]

there IS no fuss down here in the Cape - a very high percentage of all bikes have O.H.L.P's (Orange Head Light Protectors), and apart from the odd, very isolated incident, the local authorities are totally cool with the color Orange, for day-time running.

15 years ago, the Government MANDATED that motorcycle headlights be 'always on', to increase the safety aspect when differentiating a (smaller) bike from a (bigger) car.

Then 3 years ago, Talk Radio 702 and Cape Talk 567 introduced the 'Lead with your Lights' campaign as a part of the bigger 'Lead SA' campaign, aimed at getting CAR drivers to turn light on in DAYTIME, in a bid to reduce the very high number of PEDESTRIAN fatalities.

Motorcycles thus 'lost' the one advantage they (and SAAB/Volvo?) owners had, which was lights always on...

Although O.H.L.P's were introduced before this campaign, in the interim the numbers of people choosing to fit them has increased massively.

Cheers!
Chris

[TheBear]

and you missed the night part...

You sort of said: "From what I have read having Googled "national traffic act" they are not legal and especially so at night. ", i.e. illegal by day, more illegal by night.  The law, as quoted above, does not say either.    

READ the whole act and you will become enlightened and then realize why I said what I said. Too busy to look it up again myself. There is mention of headlamps not being allowed to be diffused too...
[/quote]

Not in this part.

It is mentioned elsewhere in the act,  but that is an interesting part since whether is is diffused or not is not something the eye can decide,  just as the ear cannot decide the pipe is to loud.  Cops do not have light meters with them and neither do I,  so I cannot know if my light is diffused in anyway.  Also,  many methods of filtering light,  without diffusing it.

In the end,  your bike.  Your choice. 

[Mzee]

Well, an informative thread.

[Jacoboos]

Also, when some bright orange approaches from behind, cagers suddenly remember but they also have an orange thingy which can be quite useful.

[TheBear]

To me, regardless of legal, or illegal, it makes me more visible.  Even if illegal, it will be in the same category as not displaying your license disc as prescribed, but have it under the seat.  99,999999% of cops, understand.