Motor Vehicle and Bicycle Lights Compliance during the Blackout

This is a report in the Daily Telegraph on 2 September, 1939 regarding the new laws concerning motor vehicle and bicycle lights. 1940 alone there were 300,000 prosecutions for blackout offences.

​An official notice issued from the Lord Privy Seal’s office stated: “A lighting order has been made under Defence Regulation No 24 and comes into operation at sunset tonight as a further measure of precaution.

“The effect of the order is that every night from sunset to sunrise all lights inside the buildings must be obscured and lights outside buildings must be extinguished, subject to certain exceptions in the case of external lighting where it is essential for the conduct of work of vital national importance. Such lights must be adequately shaded”.

Drivers who had been unable to take the full measures prescribed under the Lighting Restriction Order were allowed to employ the following improvised methods for one night only:

Sidelamps – Covered by two thicknesses of newspaper, with side, rear or top panels completely obscured;

Rear Lamps – All glass panels other the obligatory red lamp completely obscured and the red light covered with two thicknesses of newspaper.

Warning to motorists - no further latitude

A statement issued late last night said:

While it is appreciated that tonight (Friday) many drivers of motor vehicles may have had difficulty in suitably dimming their lights, it is necessary to emphasise that no further latitude in the matter of compliance with the emergency lighting regulations can be permitted.

“It is essential that every vehicle on the roads after sunset tomorrow night (Saturday) shall have its lights dimmed in strict accordance with the regulations. Drivers who fail to comply with these regulations expose themselves to heavy penalties”.

In the case of lamps carried by pedal cycles, the following rules must be observed:

The upper half of the front glass must be completely obscured;

The lower half of any reflector must be treated with black paint or otherwise rendered non-effective;

Panels or windows provided for the emission of light other than that facing to the front must be completely obscured;

All other apertures such as those provided for ventilation must as far as practicable be screened to prevent the emission of light, particularly in an upward direction;

The light entitled by the lamp must be white.

Lookout in the Blackout - WW2 Propaganda Poster.

Cross only at the Lights - WW2 Propaganda Poster.