White yellow reg plates

Ring Peace · 13 Jul 2010 at 15:50

Does anyone know why the front registration plate is white and the rear is yellow?

Show which way the car is facing is the only reason I have heard that makes any sense, I would guess there is no reason just government complicating things for the sake of it.

Lashout_UK · 13 Jul 2010 at 15:52

If I remember rightly the reason for a yellow plate at the rear but white at the front was that it is illegal to show a white light to the rear at night, and that this law includes reflectors in its definition of what constitutes a light. This was before the days of reversing lights, for which the law was amended so that if you are reversing you can show a white light in conjunction with a red light..
Also Yellow & Black are the boldest contrast you can get and thus enables them to be read at the greatest distance.

mjt · 13 Jul 2010 at 17:03

I remember being told it was for foggy conditions when I was a child. Probably nonsense though

The French used to have yellow plates on the back, but then they thought yellow headlights were best :rolleyes:

Slime101 · 13 Jul 2010 at 21:05

Having white/black plates at the front and yellow/black at the back is hardly confusing nor is it a government plot to thow everyone off the scent of a secret plan against motorists!

Cookeh · 13 Jul 2010 at 21:49

Slime101 said:
Having white/black plates at the front and yellow/black at the back is hardly confusing nor is it a government plot to thow everyone off the scent of a secret plan against motorists!