The requirements relating to the lighting of all vehicles used on the public road are contained in the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (RVLR). If the fork lift truck is not used on a public road then clearly the provisions of the RVLR do not apply.
If a fork lift truck is used on a public road between sunrise and sunset and is not fitted with any front or rear position lamp then it is exempt from having to be fitted with any lamp or reflector.
In general the lighting requirements for fork lifts depend upon their maximum speed and the table below lists the requirements.
| Maximum Speed | Types of lamp to be fitted |
| Any speed | Front position lamp
Rear position lamp
Rear retro-reflector |
| Greater than 15 mph | Front position lamp
Rear position lamp
Rear retro-reflector
Dipped beam headlamp
Direction indicator
Hazard warning signal device |
| Greater than 25 mph | As above but also with
Rear fog lamp
Stop lamp |
| Greater than 40 mph | As above but with
Dim-dip device or running lamp (unless the vehicle conforms to European requirements) |
