Europese wetgeving voor voertuigverlichting

Toepassingsgebied

Shape, light intensity and colour of red rear lamps, white front lamps and red/amber side markers.

Geldt voor

Belangrijkste eisen

• Rear lamps: red. Front lamps: white. Colour coordinates defined in the regulation.
• Minimum brake-light intensity: 60 cd — maximum: 260 cd per lamp.
• Brake light must reach full intensity instantly upon activation.
• End-outline marker lamps mandatory on vehicles wider than 2.10 m.
• Every approved lamp carries an E-mark (e.g. E4 for the Netherlands) followed by the approval number.

In de praktijk

• — A replacement rear lamp on a Schmitz trailer — must show an E-mark.
• — Amber side markers on a 13.6 m semi-trailer (yes, mandatory).
• — Dual-function position/stop lamp on a light commercial vehicle.

Toepassingsgebied

All on-board electrical components, including LED drivers, work lights and flash patterns.

Geldt voor

Belangrijkste eisen

• Shielded wiring and/or ferrite cores are often required on the DC cables of LED bars.
• No interference with 26 MHz–2.5 GHz bands (AM, FM, DAB, GPS, GSM).
• E-mark with additional "10R" number on the housing or on the LED controller.
• Uncertified Chinese LED bars are often the source of radio/GPS interference.

In de praktijk

• — A 32-inch LED bar causing DAB+ radio interference → R10 certification likely missing.
• — A beacon making the tachograph stutter — R10 non-compliant.

Toepassingsgebied

Position, height, spacing and number of mandatory/optional lamps per vehicle category.

Geldt voor

Belangrijkste eisen

• Maximum 2 rear fog lamps, maximum 2 reversing lamps (N3/O4: up to 4).
• Dipped-beam height: 500–1200 mm above ground (N3: up to 1500 mm).
• Maximum lateral distance from vehicle outer edge to dipped beam: 400 mm.
• Side marker lamps: every 3 m on vehicles longer than 6 m. Amber, except the rearmost which may be red.
• Daytime running lights (DRL) mandatory since 2011 on new M/N vehicles — auto-on with ignition.
• Extra driving lamps: maximum 4 per vehicle, total reference number ≤ 100 (sum).

In de praktijk

• — Mounting an LED bar on the cab? Check: does the reference number still fit within 100 total?
• — Trailer 15 m long: minimum 5 amber side markers per side.
• — Reversing lamp on a tractor: white only, only active in reverse gear.

Toepassingsgebied

Colour, flash frequency, intensity and visibility angle of warning lamps.

Geldt voor

Belangrijkste eisen

• Class T (toroidal) for 360° beacons, class X for directional flashers.
• Flash frequency 2–5 Hz (120–300 flashes per minute).
• Colour: blue (emergency services), amber (recovery/abnormal transport), green/red only exceptionally.
• Minimum intensity class 1 (daylight): varies by emission angle; R65 defines exact test pattern.
• ECE marking "65 T" or "65 X" must be visible on the lens or housing.

In de praktijk

• — Amber beacon on a tow truck — must carry R65 T or R65 X.
• — LED flasher on a roadside-assistance vehicle — verify the class 1 (daylight) marking.

Toepassingsgebied

DRL units only; not for combination with dipped beam.

Geldt voor

Belangrijkste eisen

• Colour: white (amber/yellow no longer permitted since 2011).
• Intensity between 400 cd and 1200 cd.
• Minimum 600 mm between the two DRL units.
• Height 250–1500 mm above ground.
• Automatic switch-off when low/high beam is engaged.

In de praktijk

• — Retrofit DRLs on an older van: R87-certified units + wiring that switches off with the headlights.

Toepassingsgebied

Side markers only — NOT to be confused with position or outline lamps.

Geldt voor

Belangrijkste eisen

• Amber, except the rearmost which may be red.
• Maximum 3 m between markers on vehicles longer than 6 m.
• First side marker ≤ 3 m behind the front axle, last one ≤ 1 m before the rear end.
• May flash in sync with the indicators ("dynamic marker" allowed since 2014).

In de praktijk

• — Container semi-trailer: minimum 4 amber markers per side.
• — New commercial vehicle: dynamic amber marker that points inward like an arrow.

Toepassingsgebied

Complete signalling — position, stop, indicators, reversing, DRL, side markers.

Geldt voor

Belangrijkste eisen

• New vehicles may use R148 instead of all the older standalone regulations.
• Photometric test at 0.25× and 1× nominal voltage.
• Mandatory minimum distance between indicator and brake light (geometric visibility).
• Stricter requirements on colour fastness under prolonged UV exposure.

In de praktijk

• — A 2024 Scania almost certainly uses R148-approved rear units instead of separate R7/R38 components.

Toepassingsgebied

Forward road illumination.

Geldt voor

Belangrijkste eisen

• Dipped beam: asymmetrical cutoff, white colour, max 1× dusk-angle disturbance.
• Reference number per lamp: total of all extra driving lights ≤ 100.
• LED headlamps must have a headlamp washer above 2000 lumens.
• Automatic levelling required for xenon/LED above 2000 lumens.

In de praktijk

• — Rally-style driving lights on a 4×4: total reference number under 100 = legal.
• — LED headlamp retrofit: pay attention to automatic levelling and washer.

Toepassingsgebied

Tankers, silo trucks, vehicles for explosives or toxic substances.

Geldt voor

Belangrijkste eisen

• Fixtures must be explosion-proof or self-extinguishing on damage (no filaments that can ignite).
• No halogen bulbs near the cargo area — only LED with EX classification.
• Wiring in the cargo area: insulated and without exposed connectors.
• "ADR" or "ADR/TÜV" marking on the housing required.

In de praktijk

• — Work light on a fuel tanker: must be an ADR-certified LED.
• — Orange ADR plates must remain visible in fog without using their own lighting.