Are brake lights compulsory?

touch · 12 Jun 2015 at 23:46

I've been restoring an old moped and now everything is back together and I just need to finish off the wiring. I've realised that there isnt a brake light.

Will it pass an mot? I'm pretty sure it came from the factory like this (I found a wiring diagram showing just a single wire running to the rear light and there doesnt appear to be any sort of switch/sensor in the brake levers either).

I know that cars can pass an mot without seatbelts and things if they were originally built like that. Is this a similar situation?

wazza300 · 12 Jun 2015 at 23:52

Yes it will pass,if they aren't originally on the bike then it will pass,same as no indicators on classic and vintage bikes as it was all hand signals back then

Dogbreath · 13 Jun 2015 at 09:34

MOT Manual said:
Exemptions
If a stop lamp is fitted, it must meet the requirements of this inspection, but need not be fitted to a machine which:

a. cannot exceed 25mph, or
b. was first used before 1 January 1936, or
c. was first used before 1 April 1986 and which
has an engine capacity of less than 50cc.

So if it was first registered before April 1986 and is under 50cc you don't need a brake light.

TripleT · 13 Jun 2015 at 09:44

Not sure I'd WANT to ride without a brake light mind!

Tefal · 13 Jun 2015 at 10:45

touch said:
I've been restoring an old moped and now everything is back together and I just need to finish off the wiring. I've realised that there isnt a brake light.

Will it pass an mot? I'm pretty sure it came from the factory like this (I found a wiring diagram showing just a single wire running to the rear light and there doesnt appear to be any sort of switch/sensor in the brake levers either).

I know that cars can pass an mot without seatbelts and things if they were originally built like that. Is this a similar situation?

you can use a little micro switch and a plate attached to the lever to make a switch or you can put a oil pressure switch into the brake circuit.

but iirc if you've got the light but it doesnt work its a fail if you've not got a lgiht at all (such as a trackbike) you can get an mot but it will be DAY TIME ONLY and if you ride when its dark you'll be guilty of dirving without an mot and without insurnace (as your insurance is dependant on your mot being vailid)

also its risky as **** mine broke while i was out and nearly got re soldered a few tiems before i relaised, resoldered it in a pub beer garden lol

Wucked · 13 Jun 2015 at 15:16

I wouldn't ride without one, good luck if you do.

Dogbreath · 13 Jun 2015 at 17:51

Wucked said:
I wouldn't ride without one, good luck if you do.

How many push bikes have brake lights? You can do 30mph on one of them, so what's the difference?

On a proper bike I agree, I would also want brake lights.

ttaskmaster · 15 Jun 2015 at 15:32

Dogbreath said:
How many push bikes have brake lights? You can do 30mph on one of them, so what's the difference?

Bicycles generally aren't riding centre of lane where an inattentive car driver will rear-end them...

Flack88 · 15 Jun 2015 at 17:23

ttaskmaster said:
Bicycles generally aren't riding centre of lane where an inattentive car driver will rear-end them...

Considering some people do this to people with a rear brake light, having nothing seems a bit risky to me.

TripleT · 15 Jun 2015 at 19:08

Exactly, I've been behind a car recently that had no brake lights working and it took me a bit to relise he was actually stopping. Advantage of being on a bike is you can pull up next to them and tell them.

You expect motorbikes to have them so drivers would (subconsciously maybe) look for them.

Terminal_Boy · 15 Jun 2015 at 19:17

ttaskmaster said:
Bicycles generally aren't riding centre of lane where an inattentive car driver will rear-end them...

Drivers aren't expecting brake lights on a bicycle. They are expecting them on a moped, however old.

Hand signals will be wasted on 90% of 2015 road users.

wazza300 · 15 Jun 2015 at 19:20

if they arnt fitted when the bike was manufactured then you don't have to fit them,it will pass an mot

you can stick a lighthouse light on the back of your bike and still they wont see you

up to the owner to fit them or not,if you do fit them then they have to be working or they wont pass an mot,or take them off for the mot

Dogbreath · 16 Jun 2015 at 08:15

wazza300 said:
you can stick a lighthouse light on the back of your bike and still they wont see you

Sadly very true.

ttaskmaster · 16 Jun 2015 at 11:43

Flack88 said:
Considering some people do this to people with a rear brake light, having nothing seems a bit risky to me.

Speaking as someone who did get shunted thusly, I wholeheartedly agree!!

Terminal_Boy said:
Hand signals will be wasted on 90% of 2015 road users.

Strange how none of MY hand signals ever get misinterpreted... even stranger how they cannot see my indicator or brake lights, cannot hear my roaring engine, don't even notice me sat to the side and forward of them, yet always see the hand signals...

Wucked · 16 Jun 2015 at 12:16

wazza300 said:
you can stick a lighthouse light on the back of your bike and still they wont see you

Yep there are some drivers that seem to be willfully ignorant, and its difficult to know who they are until its too late. But I'm not convinced there's no value to having a break light. Especially the flashing / blinking ones.

wazza300 · 16 Jun 2015 at 14:40

true,for some peace of mind id fit one,but for mot purposes you don't need to

they drive too close to you aswell,but tbf ive seen a fair few bikers tailgate cars,if ever they braked sharp they would hit