Adding extra lights to your vehicle can often be a tricky business, and the laws around the situation can be just as tricky.
To break it down, adding a spotlamp to a vehicle is illegal unless you are using it for official purposes, such as on an ambulance or just about any law enforcement vehicle.
However, an additional set of lamps on the front of a vehicle is not considered to be a spotlamp, because they are an additional set of headlamps.
These are legal as long as the headlamps comply with the South African National Standards (SANS) specifications.
For the ‘big-words’ explanation from SANS, read below:
Reg 160. Main-beam
• Every head lamp emitting a main-beam of light shall be so adjusted and maintained that—
(a) it shall be capable of adequately illuminating an area ahead of the motor vehicle concerned enabling the driver to see any person, vehicle or substantial object at a distance of at least 100 metres ahead; and
(b) it can be extinguished by the use of a device which simultaneously shall cause or allow the dipped-beam of light to be emitted or continue to be emitted from a head lamp.
Reg 177. Use of spot lamp
• No person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle if it is fitted with a spot lamp, which can be so adjusted as to enable a beam of light emitted therefrom to be deflected in any direction:
Provided that a spot lamp which is adjustable—
(a) may be fitted and used for official purposes on any ambulance, rescue-, fire–fighting-, police-, or traffic-control vehicle;
(b) may be fitted to a vehicle owned by a medical practitioner or veterinarian, and used in the execution of such person’s professional duties; or
(c) may be fitted to a breakdown vehicle or a vehicle employed in connection with the supply of electricity or other public essential services: Provided that it is used solely at the scene of an accident or breakdown or for the examination of overhead telephone, telegraph or power lines.
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