driving with broken tail light - illegal?

ReductionQueen

If the bulbs are still working, you can get a special tape for a couple of quid from many car spares/accessory shops to repair the lens and keep it legal.

The law states that white light should not be seen to the rear of the vehicle, ie only red and amber should be seen, it doesn't say that the light unit immiting it has to be pretty!

I have repaired some slightly damaged light lenses in this way and had them go through an MOT test.

student100

peterbaker wrote:

The number of people (especially erratic kids) driving about after dark on cycles without lights is a far bigger problem that your one busted rearlight till you fix it.
IMHO

Mmm. But the kids don't have a cycle licence that they could have points taken off. You can have points off your driving licence for a broken light, and I wouldn't want to run the risk just for the sake of a bit of repair work.

The car would certainly fail an MOT if the light cover was broken.

valiant23

peterbaker wrote:

Does it matter? You'll be unlucky if any policeman spots it before you fix it. And if they do spot it, unlucky again if they can be bothered to officialise it.

These kinds of laws are of the past. The police don't enforce them properly anymore. The number of people (especially erratic kids) driving about after dark on cycles without lights is a far bigger problem that your one busted rearlight till you fix it.

IMHO

I agree with the sentiment, BUT.. It does matter, or rather it only has to matter to one PC, and you've got (at the very least) a load of hassle. I agree with the poster who suggested the tape-as a short term fix.