- [(1) Save as hereinafter provided, every motor vehicle, while being driven in a public place, during the period half an hour after sunset and at any time when there is no sufficient light, shall be lit with the following lamps which shall render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the road at a distance of one hundred and fifty five metres ahead:
(a) in the case of motor vehicle other than three-wheelers, three-wheeled invalid carriages and motor cycles, two or four head lamps;
(b) in the case of [* * *], three-wheelers and three-wheeled invalid carriages one or two headlamps;
(bb) [ (bb) every two wheeler manufactured on and after the 1st April, 2017, shall have one or two head lamps, conforming to the applicable standards in force for performance and installation requirements as notified by the Central Government from time to time vide according to sub-rule (1) of rule 124, which shall automatically switch on when the engine is running:
Provided that, the above condition of the head lamp being lit when the engine is running is deemed to be satisfied if daytime running lamp is provided, conforming to the applicable standards in force for performance and installation requirements as notified by the Central Government from time to time, which shall be lit automatically if the engine is running:
Provided further that the daytime running lamp shall be lit off automatically if the engine is running and the head lamp is switched on.]
(c) in the case of a sidecar attached to a motor cycle one lamp showing a white light to the front;
(d) in the case of construction equipment vehicle [and combine harvesters] , two or four lamps showing to the front white light visible from a distance of one hundred and fifty five metres ahead. ]
(2) Every such motor vehicle other than a [* * *] three-wheeler shall also carry -
(i) [two lamps (hereinafter referred to as the rear lamp) showing to the rear a red light visible in the rear from a distance of one hundred and fifty-five metres; and in the case of a motor cycle one lamp showing a red light to the rear visible from a distance of seventy-five metres] ; and
(ii) lamp, which may be the rear lamp or some other device, illuminating with a white light the whole of the registration mark exhibited [[on the rear of the vehicle including construction equipment vehicle] , [and combine harvesters] and on the side in the case of construction equipment vehicle] [and combine harvesters] so as to render it legible from a distance of fifteen metres to the rear :
Provided that when a motor vehicle is drawing another vehicle or vehicles and the distance between such vehicles does not exceed 1.5 metres, it shall be sufficient if the last drawn vehicle carries a rear lamp or a lamp illuminating the rear registration mark :
[Provided further that every construction equipment vehicle shall also carry two lamps showing to the rear red lights visible in the rear from a distance of one hundred and fifty-five metres.]
(3) [ On and from the commencement of the Central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 1993, all the obligatory front head lamps of a motor vehicle other than motor cycles shall be as nearly as possible of the same power and fixed at a height as specified in Indian Standards [IS: 8415-1977] (clause 4.1):
Provided that in the case of four-wheel drive cross country vehicles, the maximum height of the said front head lamps may be as per limits specified in Indian Standards [IS:8415-1977] (clause 4.1.1):
[* * *]
Provided further that on and from the commencement of the Central Motor Vehicles(Amendment) Rules, 1993, all vehicles other than three-wheelers of engine capacity less than 500 cc, motor cycles and three-wheeled invalid carriages manufactured shall be fitted with two rear lamps showing red light to the rear.]
[(3-A) On and from the commencement of the Central Motor Vehicles (Sixth Amendment) Rules, 2000, all the obligatory front head lamps of a construction equipment vehicle shall be as nearly as possible of the same power and fixed at a height so that front visibility is maintained and farthermost point of equipment/attachment is clearly seen by on-coming traffic.]
(3B) [ All the obligatory front head lamps of a combine harvester shall be as nearly as possible of the same power and fixed at a height so that front visibility is maintained and farthermost point of equipment or attachment is clearly seen by oncoming traffic.]
(4) The rear lamp shall be fixed either on the centre line of the vehicle or to the right hand side, and save in the case of a transport vehicle, at a height of not exceeding one metre above the ground:
[* * *]
(5) In the case of a transport vehicle, the rear light maybe fixed at such level as may be necessary to illuminate the registration mark.
(6) Every heavy goods carriage [including trailers] shall befitted with a red indicator lamp of size of thirty centimetres by ten centimetres on the extreme rear most body cross beam and in the case of a vehicle not constructed with body in the rear,the indicator lamp shall be fitted near the right rear light above the rear number plate:
[Provided that every construction equipment vehicle of an unconventional or extraordinary type in travel mode shall be fitted or installed with a red indicator lamp of size of not less than 100 square centimetres on the extreme rearmost point of the body.]
(7) [ On and from the date of commencement of the Central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 1999,every motor vehicle manufactured shall be fitted with at least one lamp which shall automatically be operated, throwing a white light to the rear, when the vehicle is being driven in the reverse gear.]
(8) [ In the case of vehicles, other than three-wheelers of engine capacity not exceeding 500 CC,which are attached with trailers, all the lamps required to be fitted on the rear of the vehicle shall be fitted at the rear of the trailer.]
[(8-A) On the commencement of the Central Motor Vehicles (Sixth Amendment) Rules, 2000, every construction equipment vehicle shall be fitted with two lamps at the rear throwing light to the rear when the vehicle is being driven in the reverse gear and there shall also be an audible warning system operating when the vehicle is being driven in the reverse gear, the audible warning system and the light being automatically operated when the vehicle is in reverse gear.]
(8B) [ Every combine harvester shall be fitted with two lamps at the rear throwing light to the rear when the vehicle is being driven in the reverse gear and there shall also be an audible warning system operating when the vehicle is being driven in the reverse gear so that the audible warning system and the light are automatically operated when the vehicle is in reverse gear.]