New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

ROAD RULES 2014 - REG 218-1

218-1 NSW rule: using lights on vehicles generally

The driver of a vehicle must not--

(a) use any fog light fitted to the vehicle unless the driver is driving in fog, mist or under other atmospheric conditions that restrict visibility, or

(b) use any spot or search light fitted to the vehicle unless--

(i) the vehicle is stationary and the light is used only for the purpose of examining or making adjustments or repairs to a vehicle, and the light from the light is not projected more than 6 metres, or

(ii) the light is used for the temporary purpose of reading any finger or notice board or house number, or

(iii) the vehicle is being driven or used by a police officer in the performance of the officer's duty, or

(iv) the vehicle is being used by a governmental or semi-governmental or local government or other authority in connection with its functions, or

(c) use any additional headlight permitted to be fitted to the vehicle by the applicable vehicle standards law when the vehicle is being driven on a length of road for which there is provision for the lighting by means of road lighting or when any approaching vehicle is visible to the driver, or

(d) flash any headlight or additional headlight permitted to be fitted to the vehicle by rule 73(6) of the Light Vehicle Standards Rules (or, in the case of a heavy vehicle, a corresponding heavy vehicle standard) unless--

(i) the vehicle is being used to respond to an emergency and is being driven by a person who is authorised to drive the vehicle and has identification or any other distinguishing mark indicating that authority, or

(ii) the vehicle is a bus and the warning system (within the meaning of the Road Transport (General) Regulation 2021 , section 18) is activated as required by rule 222- 2, or

(e) use any light permitted to be fitted to the vehicle by rule 114(4) of the Light Vehicle Standards Rules (or, in the case of a heavy vehicle, a corresponding heavy vehicle standard) unless--

(i) the vehicle is standing in a hazardous position or moving in hazardous circumstances, or

(ii) the vehicle is an ambulance, police vehicle, fire fighting vehicle, mines rescue or other rescue vehicle, Red Cross vehicle or another emergency vehicle that is being used for urgent purposes arising from an accident, fire or other emergency, or

(iii) the vehicle is a motor vehicle or trailer that is transporting any load that exceeds the maximum length, width or height limits set out in the applicable vehicle standards law or any other vehicle used to escort such vehicles and either vehicle is being used for such purposes, or

(iv) the vehicle is being used by Transport for NSW or a police officer for law enforcement purposes, or

(v) the vehicle is being used by an officer of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator for law enforcement purposes, or

(f) use any device referred to in rule 114A of the Light Vehicle Standards Rules (or, in the case of a heavy vehicle, a corresponding heavy vehicle standard) or any hazard warning signal complying with the requirements of the third edition ADR relating to the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices--

(i) if the vehicle is not a bus--unless the vehicle is standing in a hazardous position or moving in hazardous conditions, or

(ii) if the vehicle is a bus--unless the bus is standing in a hazardous position or moving in hazardous conditions or while the bus is stopped to allow a passenger to get on or off the bus.

: Maximum penalty--20 penalty units.

Note 1 :
"Bus" ,
"emergency vehicle" ,
"motor vehicle" ,
"police officer" ,
"police vehicle" ,
"third edition ADR" and
"trailer" are defined in the Dictionary, and
"vehicle" is defined in rule 15.
"Fog light" ,
"headlight" and
"period of darkness" are defined in rule 214- 1.

Note 2 : This rule is an additional NSW road rule. This rule applies in this jurisdiction instead of rules 215, 217, 221 and 222 of the Australian Road Rules .