Integrated Rear Light and MoTs [UK]

[avowuntohisown]

Hi all,

I recently took my bike in for an early MoT in Swindon - was bound to fail on something - and got an immediate fail on the integrated rear light. I needed some other stuff done and was in Northampton in the week so took it to a motorcycle garage in town. Asking about the light, he said that it's down to interpretation of the DVLA guidelines on what is 'obstructing' the brake light and that he knows places that would pass it.

Anyone out there have an integrated rear light and had an MoT since this rule came into place [last year I am told]?

 

[Friz]

Indicators are meant to be a certain distance appart. If a place MOTs your bike with them in, then they're breaking the law and so are you.

 

[avowuntohisown]

Hadn't heard anything like that before - and from some searches on the subject this has been mentioned but I don't believe there is a check as part of the MoT? The failure was:

"Rear Direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp [1.5.1c]"

The conversation I'd had with the guy where it was MoT'd said it was about the brake light being 'obstructed' when the indicator was on - which is kind of the opposite of the above as the indicator over-rides the half of the brake light. However you could argue that, as the other half of the light is still fully operational - and that there is no minimum size requirement of the brake light that it is fine.

Again, after a quick search other forums are full of 'my mechanic said x', 'my mechanic said y' - which makes sense when you see the actual guidelines which are not detailed at all!

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/Categorisation of Defects.pdf - page 18

Oh well, lucky I've still got the original part!

 

[Friz]

Haven't heard the indicator blocking the the brake light before myself but it kinda makes sense!