LED light bars are amongst the most popular car accessories in
Australia. But as with certain types of vehicle add-ons, there are rules
regarding the installation and placement of such lighting devices. And to make
matters more complicated, these rules slightly differ from one state to another
as each part of the country has its own road authority. This basically means
that what is legal and allowed in one state may not be the same in another. And
because the national road authorities have yet to amend the existing design
rules, there are also certain inconsistencies in them.
To avoid
getting into trouble, here are excerpts of design rules telling you where you
can legally mount your light bars in certain states.
Victoria
1. They
should be fitted in pairs - As far as possible, the lighting devices must be
installed symmetrically in pairs to the front of your car. If they are not
fitted in pairs, they must be placed in the front and centre of the vehicle.
2. Four is
the maximum number - Only up to four driving lamps can be fitted to your
vehicle.
3. They
should not cause driver discomfort - The LED light bar in Australia must not obstruct the driver's view of the road. It
should not also cause discomfort to the driver either directly or by
reflection.
4. They
should work with the main or high beam - The light bars must only be switched
on/off when the high beam of your headlights is turned on/off.
South Australia
1. They
should be installed in pairs of between 2 and 4 lights - The lighting devices
must be installed in a forward facing position and symmetrically in pairs of
two or four lights. If they are not fitted as pairs, they must be placed in the
centre line of the vehicle.
2. Placing
lighting devices on the roof of the vehicle is allowed.
3. You can
use an isolator switch – The light bars may be fitted with an isolator switch
so when you turn on the high beam, the LED bar light online will remain switched off.
4. They
should not cause problems to other road users – The lighting devices must not
be fitted or used in a way that they would dazzle or cause problems to other
road users.
Western Australia
Mounting rules in WA are quite similar to
those in VIC and SA with a few notable exceptions. Here are some of them.
1. Placing
the light bars higher than the front edge of the bonnet is not allowed.
2. The light
bars must be fitted with a manual switch that is accessible to the driver from
the normal driving position.
3. The light
bars must emit white light. Other colours are prohibited.
Whether you
are using LED light bar for 4WDs,
trucks, or other types of vehicles, make sure to take note of these design
rules, especially if you are travelling interstate.
