What Makes A Light Street Legal*?
CERTIFICATION:
The first step to having a street legal light is purchasing a light, which has been certified under a recognized automotive standard. The proof that a light is certified can be found on its lens. (see image below)
In order for a light to meet certification standards, its brightness and beam pattern need to comply with the standard’s prerequisites. In Canada, there are two recognized standards: the US based SAE regulations and the UN based ECE regulations.
The SAE certification for auxiliary driving lights is SAE Y (J581) and the letters SAE Y will be indicated on the lens.
The ECE certification for the same category of lights is R149 (formerly R112). A circle surrounding the letter “E” followed by the distinguishing number of the country that granted approval will be indicated on the lens.
Side Note: Raw lumen and effective lumen numbers in the street legal lighting category are quite different from each other as the light output is throttled down to comply with the regulations. ECE standards allow for brighter lights than those allowed under a SAE certification.
Depending on where you live and/or plan to use your lights, you will need to choose between the two certifications. SAE standards are recognized all across North America, while the ECE standards are only accepted in some Canadian provinces. Make sure you know what regulations are recognized in your area of use before you purchase a light or light kit.
Purchasing a street legal light, however, does not automatically make your light street legal when you use it.
What other conditions do you have to comply with?
WIRING:
To be street legal, an auxiliary driving light has to be wired into the vehicle’s high beam circuit, so that it can only be illuminated when the vehicle’s high beams are turned on, and automatically gets turned off as soon as the vehicle switches over to low beam lighting. (see wiring diagram below)
MOUNTING:
To be street legal, an auxiliary driving light needs to be mounted below the vehicle’s own high beam lights and its high intensity portion of the beam is to be 4 inches below the one of the vehicle’s headlights at a distance of 25 feet (8m).
The light (or lights) is to be mounted in a centred position (or symmetrically) on the front of the vehicle no less than 16 inches and no more than 42 inches off the ground.
The maximum amount of auxiliary driving lights that can legally be mounted onto the front of one vehicle is two (2) lights.
A Note to All the Drivers
(who enjoy the extra light output of a street legal auxiliary driving light kit):
While your lights are now street legal, please be aware that you are quite a bit brighter to oncoming traffic than a vehicle without extra lights. Please be courteous and do not wait until the last minute to turn off your high beams when meeting other drivers on the road.
* Always check with regional rules and regulations regarding the use of auxiliary driving lights. NightRider™ LEDS strives to deliver the safest and most lawful lights, but cannot be held accountable for regional restrictions, improper mounting, aiming, or wiring.
