This Act may be cited as the Lights on Vehicles Act, 1915, and it shall come into operation on the first day of March, nineteen hundred and sixteen.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, every person who causes or permits any vehicle to be in any public highway during the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise shall provide that vehicle with a lamp or lamps in proper working-order and so constructed and capable of being so attached as when lighted to display to the front and rear a light visible for a reasonable distance, and so that the light to the front shall be a white light.

If only one lamp is so provided it shall be placed on the off or right side of the vehicle.

Every person driving or being in charge of any vehicle in any public highway during the period aforesaid shall keep the lamp or lamps so provided properly trimmed, lighted, and attached.

In providing such light care must be taken that the light exhibited shall not be of such dazzling brilliancy that it will affect the vision of drivers of vehicles approaching from the opposite direction.

Every person who offends against any of the provisions of this section is liable to a fine of one pound, and in the case of a second or subsequent conviction to a fine of three pounds:

Provided that if a person driving or being in charge of a vehicle is charged with an offence under this section he shall not be convicted thereof if he proves to the satisfaction of the Court that he was placed in charge of the vehicle at a time or place when or where it was impossible to procure a lamp or lamps, and that he had no subsequent opportunity of procuring such lamp or lamps, or that the offence arose through the neglect or default of some other person whose duty it was to provide the vehicle with a lamp or lamps.

A local authority may make by-laws providing for the exemption from the operation of this Act of any vehicle while engaged in carrying any inflammable goods of a kind specified in the by-law.

This Act applies to every kind of vehicle except any vehicle drawn or propelled by hand.

This Act applies to any machine or implement of any kind drawn or propelled by animal or mechanical traction in the same manner as it applies to vehicles.

In the case of a bicycle, tricycle, or other similar machine where only one lamp is provided, the provisions of this Act as to the position of the lamp shall not apply.