Very Bright LED Number Plate Lamps

datostar

On a long run down the M1 Saturday night I was overtaken twice by cars with pairs of very bright LED rear number plate lamps which were actually illuminating the road surface behind, causing dazzle and making the number plates unreadable. Surely these can't be legal? Are they fitted to render speed cameras ineffective or just to annoy other road users?

neilmcl

I can't see how they dazzle you if the light is illuminated downward at the plate. There's nothing illegal about them and they wont affect speed or ANPR cameras.

AndyMc.....

Some of them aren!!!8217;t fully shielded and do emit a rearway light.

sevenhills

datostar wrote: »

On a long run down the M1 Saturday night I was overtaken twice by cars with pairs of very bright LED rear number plate lamps which were actually illuminating the road surface behind, causing dazzle and making the number plates unreadable. Surely these can't be legal? Are they fitted to render speed cameras ineffective or just to annoy other road users?

I have LEDs front side lights bulbs fitted, to replace the 5amp ones fitted as standard.
The 1amp LEDs are much brighter, but they don't dazzle. I guess as long as they look ok when they pass a police car, things will be ok.

angrycrow

I have also seen what the op is referring to. They are ultra bright led light units in place of the rear number plate lights. They are almost exclusively on AUDI cars and because they are lower and brighter than the stock light they do throw white light out behind the vehicle. No need for them at all.

sheslookinhot

These are generally marked on packaging as for off-road use only.

System

The ones fitted by manufacturers only illuminate the number plate, the difference being a white blue tone to the plate. The aftermarket ones fitted by chavs are poorly designed and throw out a white light to the rear which is illegal.

Jonesya

They probably aren't legal.

You are only allowed to use approved bulbs in external car lights, they are stamped with a small "E" mark on the base. Most normal filament bulbs are approved, but most of the LED lamps you see for sale haven't got this.

Technically they're in breach of one of the road vehicle regulations, whether the police do anything about it though?

reeac

The EU regs specify 5 watts (not amps) as maximum for side, rear and number plate lights. Sounds as if manufacturer's, and especially the Germans, are pursuing the same horsepower, or rather lumens, race as with headlamps by doubling the light output whilst staying within the wattage limitation when moving from incandescent to LED lights.

stator

I've seen a few cars like this.
It's illegal of course, your number plate is supposed to be readable. Over illuminating it is illegal if it makes it unreadable.
They will get stopped by a police driver at some point, but might get away with it for ages.

almillar

I can't see how they dazzle you if the light is illuminated downward at the plate

It reflects off the reflective numberplate. I've seen a few cars around where the driver has replaced the numberplate lights with bright LEDs - can't say I've been dazzled or anything, but I certainly can't read the numberplate on these cars. Wonder if the users are aware of this...

The EU regs specify 5 watts (not amps) as maximum for side, rear and number plate lights

If this is the case, it's easy. A 5W LED could be nearly 10 times brighter than a 5w element bulb. But still, as stator says, your numberplate should be readable and that's it.