What ECE R48 actually says, the UK MOT position, and how to tell at a glance whether your dynamic-sweep upgrade will pass an inspection.
The short answer: yes, with conditions. The long answer is what most drivers actually need.
What ECE R48 says
UN Regulation 48 (the EU/UK lighting standard) accepts sequential turn signals provided:
- The total sweep time from start to fully illuminated is under 200 milliseconds
- All LED segments achieve full luminous intensity within that window
- The sweep direction is outward (toward the corner of the vehicle)
The MOT test
Inspectors look for two things: amber colour temperature (white-shifted LEDs fail) and cycle uniformity (a stuttering sweep fails). A correctly-installed sequential pair passes without comment.
The cheap-import problem
Most £15-on-eBay sequential strips fail one of two ways: they use a polycarbonate lens that yellows in UV under 18 months, or their controller delays the sweep beyond 200ms. Always ask for ECE R48 type-approval documentation.
