The Road Transport Board (RTB) Taskforce in a statement today wishes to remind all vehicle owners and drivers of the importance of adhering to the Traffic Regulations outlined in the Road Transport Act (Cap 131), specifically Section 28, concerning the use of lights on motor vehicles and trailers.
Recent traffic checks have revealed that most vehicles in Honiara are equipped with non-standard lights, including LED and disco lights that are not in compliance with the regulation.
These lights can cause distraction and impair visibility on the road, thereby compromising road safety for all road users.
Under Regulation 28(1), “Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with two lamps at the front of the vehicle, one on each side; and when a motor vehicle is in motion on a road at night, the two lamps at the front of the vehicle shall be lighted, and the rays from the lamps shall be white or yellow, and if the vehicle is capable of proceeding at a speed greater than 20 miles per hour, shall be of such intensity as to illuminate the road ahead for a distance of at least 110 yards.”
Regulation 28(3) says, “Every motor vehicle or trailer, whether moving or parked, must have one lamp showing a red light to the rear that is bright enough to clearly show its presence on the road to traffic coming from behind, and the lamp must be made so that it shows an uncoloured light that is bright enough to clearly show the figures and numbers on the rear identification plate, unless other means of doing so are provided.”
Regulation 28(6) states that spotlights or swivelling lights should not be used in place of headlights or in a manner that causes annoyance or impairs the vision of other road users.
It outlined the correct use of reflectors, especially in low-light or night-time conditions, by giving drivers clear signals of the vehicle’s position, size, and orientation, thereby reducing accidents.
The following section of the regulation further specifies that the colour for reverse lights shall be white or orange/amber, and the same for number plate lamps.
“This is a worldwide standard approved by the Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE),” the statement explained.
The Taskforce is actively enforcing measures to remove any non-compliant lighting during traffic checks.
“The latest operation was carried out last night, which serves as awareness, and those vehicles flagged were ordered to remove the additional lighting and have their registration recorded.
“If these vehicles are flagged for the second time, then we will proceed for further action, which will result in fronting court and penalties,” the statement said.
Vehicle owners and drivers are strongly urged to ensure their vehicles comply with these regulations by removing any additional lights that may pose a safety risk.
“We also acknowledge areas to improve on for this operation to avoid delays and seek your patience and cooperation as we execute our mandated duty with the ultimate goal of ensuring road safety for everyone.
“We will continue to boost our awareness via media and other strategies for wider reach and also encourage vehicle owners to have a glance through Traffic Regulations from online sources to familiarize themselves,” the RTB statement said.
The RTB Taskforce conducting the traffic checks comprises the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Traffic Department, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development Land Transport Division (mechanical unit), and the Honiara City Council (HCC) Law Enforcement Department.
This joint operation will continue throughout the year and extend to major provincial centres later.
