lighting up times in the UK

[podmm]

where can i find a site that lists lighting up times in the UK

[Buenchico]

There used to be legal 'lighting-up times' which commenced 30 minutes after sunset and ended 30 minutes before dawn. These no longer exist. (The law simply requires lights to be used on vehicles whenever visibility is reduced).

So, I'm not too sure what it is that you require. Do you need to times of sunrise and sunset for lots of different locations in the UK? (If you've got these times you can adjust them by 30 minutes to get the corresponding 'lighting-up times'). Or do you just require a list of times for one specific town or city?

There are plenty of sites which will calculate the times of dawn and dusk but they normally require you to input the latitude and longitude of the location(s) which you need the information for. Rather than direct you to one of these rather scientific sites (they're often meant for astronomers) I'd rather ask you to provide further information so that I can direct you to the most appropriate link.

Chris

[podmm]

Thanks Chris

Yes I'm specifically thinking of sunrise/sunsets times around Birmingham

cheers podmm

[Buenchico]

Here's what you want:
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneYear.html

That site can look complicated to use but it's not:
Ignore 'Form A'. Go to 'Form B'.

Check that 'Year' shows '2005' (or whatever year you require).

Check that 'Type of Table' shows 'Sunrise/Sunset'.

'Place Name' can be left blank (or type in 'Birmingham' if you want this to appear as a header on your table).

The East/West checkmark needs to be in 'West'. Enter 1in 'degrees' and 55 in 'minutes'.

The North/South checkmark needs to be in 'North'. Enter 52 in 'degrees' and 28 in 'minutes'.

For 'Time Zone' enter 0 in 'hours' (It doesn't matter whether 'east of Greenwich or 'west of Greenwich' is checked).

Click 'Compute Table'.

Remember that all times are in GMT. You need to add 1 hour when BST operates. (For 2005 this was Sunday, 26 March to Saturday, 28 October. In 2006 BST operates from 27 March to 29 October).

Hoping this provides you with the information you require,

Chris

[Gef]

Excellent answers from Buenchico. I just wish that drivers would put their lights on when needed (and not side lights).

[Stickboy2]

"lighting up times" are still a legal requirement. See:- http://www.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.345

Lighting-up time

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations, 1989, make the use of front and rear position lamps compulsory on vehicles during the period between sunset and sunrise.

Headlamps are required on vehicles during the hours of darkness which are defined by these regulations as being the interval between one half-hour after sunset to one half-hour before sunrise.

Lights are also required at other times when visibility is restricted.

Sunrise and sunset are defined by these regulations as local sunrise and sunset.

[Moutan]

I wish people would refrain from putting their lights on except when visibility really is poor (as opposed to e.g. when there is a rain shower or generally as a default mode) and, equally, from flashing their headlights at me when they deem I should have them on in conditions of good visibility! The glare of many headlights in less than dark conditions can be very distracting, especially given the enormous number of people who fail to maintain their headlights and have beams shining in different directions or with different degrees of brightness, or only one beam working.
End of rant (for now!)
Thank you for posting the question and for the helpful information in the answers.

[special7001]

From the highway code
You then need to find out what time sunset and sunrise is

113
You MUST

•ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise
•use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified
•use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226)
Night (the hours of darkness) is defined as the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise).