Truck driving with no tail lights

Lawless2k12

Is it illegal for an 18 wheeler to drive without tail lights, indicators, etc. on his trailer? Was driving home behind an MD's truck and I just started getting closer for no reason Took a second or two to realise he had no brake lights or indicators working. Nearly rear ended him!

Considering its must have the lights to pass a DOE, and without a DOE it's not road legal, then yes it is unlawful not to have rear lights.

-Corkie-

Lawless2k12 wrote: »

Is it illegal for an 18 wheeler to drive without tail lights, indicators, etc. on his trailer? Was driving home behind an MD's truck and I just started getting closer for no reason Took a second or two to realise he had no brake lights or indicators working. Nearly rear ended him!

The driver probably dont know. Its probably a dodgy suzie, you should have flagged him down to make him aware of this problem..

the_syco

Lawless2k12 wrote: »

Took a second or two to realise he had no brake lights or indicators working.

Ring the Gardai or Traffic Corp. Informing them that an 18 wheeler has no indicators should get them to flag the trucker down, as it sounds like an accident waiting to happen.

Bagenal

18 wheeler? Explain please

-Corkie-

Bagenal wrote: »

18 wheeler? Explain please

AKA an articulated truck.

Wishbone Ash

18 wheeler - you're watching too many Smokey movies! Most artics are 12 wheelers (6 super singles on the trailer and 6 standard on the tractor)

As has been said, it may be one of the suzies- it may have dis-engaged and the driver may not have been aware of it.

Wishbone Ash

Won't be long before someone else refers to them as a "forty footer"!

padd b1975

-Corkie- wrote: »

The driver probably dont know. Its probably a dodgy suzie, you should have flagged him down to make him aware of this problem..

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

18 wheeler - you're watching too many Smokey movies! Most artics are 12 wheelers (6 super singles on the trailer and 6 standard on the tractor)

As has been said, it may be one of the suzies- it may have dis-engaged and the driver may not have been aware of it.

The flashing indicator lights on the dash are made up of 2 parts one for the tractor unit (an arrow) and a square for the trailer, if one of these does not flash it tells the driver there is a problem.

Most newish trucks will tell you if other bulbs are out too. MD keeps a tidy fleet so I would imagine his trucks would have this spec.

sheehan12

padd b1975 wrote: »

The flashing indicator lights on the dash are made up of 2 parts one for the tractor unit (an arrow) and a square for the trailer, if one of these does not flash it tells the driver there is a problem.

Most newish trucks will tell you if other bulbs are out too. MD keeps a tidy fleet so I would imagine his trucks would have this spec.

never see that in a daf truck what brand of truck have that

padd b1975

sheehan12 wrote: »

never see that in a daf truck what type of truck have that

Volvo FH12 I currently drive has it.

-Corkie-

padd b1975 wrote: »

Volvo FH12 I currently drive has it.

If he had not indicated for a long time he wouldn't see that. Anyway OP should have alerted the driver as opposed to running to Boards with the story...

padd b1975

-Corkie- wrote: »

If he had not indicated for a long time he wouldn't see that. Anyway OP should have alerted the driver as opposed to running to Boards with the story...

Very true.

Slig

Unfortunately, alot of Irish truck drivers and hauliers have a very lax attitude to vehicle standards and road safety, there is a reason that Irish registered trucks are targeted by VOSA in the UK.

Lawless2k12

No point in telling him as he must have known. There was no lights even in place on the trailer, only 2 little reflectors on the very bottom of the truck. The cab was brand spanking new but the trailer was fairly old tbh... and I refer to it as an 18 wheeler because No.1: It fairly handy and gets my point across and No.2: It had 18 wheels... 2 at front of cab, 4 at rear of cab and a trailer with 3 sets of doubles. And no need to get technical. It's not a test.

-Corkie-

Lawless2k12 wrote: »

No point in telling him as he must have known. There was no lights even in place on the trailer, only 2 little reflectors on the very bottom of the truck. The cab was brand spanking new but the trailer was fairly old tbh... and I refer to it as an 18 wheeler because No.1: It fairly handy and gets my point across and No.2: It had 18 wheels... 2 at front of cab, 4 at rear of cab and a trailer with 3 sets of doubles. And no need to get technical. It's not a test.

How the fcuk do you think he knew??? Do you think he can see his tail lights 45ft away in the cab??? :rolleyes:

Lawless2k12

Because there were no lights whatsoever on the trailer, hence nothing to connect to the cab? How could he not know if he connected sweet fack all to his cab...

Odelay

Lawless2k12 wrote: »

no brake lights or indicators working.

Most posters would have assumed the lights were there but not operating. If there were no lights fitted to the trailer, well then that is a different problem...........

Lawless2k12

Apologies for not stating that first time but chr!st people get narky pretty quick!

Slig

The 2 fuses for the trailer lights blow fairly often and are a separate fuse from the main lights on the unit. Quite often the orange side lights are under the body of the trailer and can only be seen by the driver if they are turning sharply to the right or left, same with the front lights of the trailer. Unless the road is wet its also hard to pick up on the reflection of the back lights on the road. That means that if the driver is on a motorway, straight road or well lit up area its very difficult to know if the trailer lights are working.
That said it would be very strange for both fuses to blow at the same time.