Why are there two different colours of number plates on a car in the U.K?

robert s

thanks Dr Peas for a good laugh!
The Britons' line of thinking is always refreshing. Lol. You are what you eat.
I bet it's the delicious food you guys eat over there that does it. Back ends and Curry go together in good ol Blighty! ha ha ha sorry mate just having a laugh.

erm

Originally, plates were white letters on black. Then someone had the bright idea of simply reversing the colours, and making the white background reflective - all for safety reasons, to make vehicles easier to see in the dark. Then someone remembered that white reflectors on the back of a vehicle are illegal, so they changed the rear plates to a yellow background. They could've used red, of course, but decided against it, as yellow is brighter. (I think Northern Ireland used red, though.) Simple as that.

Nothing to do with speed cameras, telling which way the vehicle is going, or any other form of law enforcement - just visibility for other drivers in the dark.

mothertiggy

so can tell the front from the back of the car ???

sewelljf

As per previous answers. Originally number plates used to be black background with white numbering. However to make them easier to read this was reveresed.

But the only white light that should be visible on the back of the car is when reversing, it was felt that light reflecting off a rear number plate could be misleading so was changed to yellow as next best colour.

I know other countries have other rules and sure they all have good reasons for them!

Bardic

Oh, please, not again!

Okay, white would have been preferable as the best reflector of light, but white is not allowed at the rear of UK vehicles (except for reversing lamps) so yellow was selected as the next best reflector.

It's a safety thing!

Alex

Back and front

or..

old and new

because the old ones are different

Liggy Lee

Front and rear

Shambles

I believe in this country it is illegal to have white lights on back of cars except reverse lights so rear number plates are yellow as white ones reflect white light.

chris c

So that you can tell if the following cars are going backwards or forwards:
VW Beatle
Audi TT

the rocket

so as the police can establish the front from the rear .

mals2008

when you leave the pub p***** you wont have a problem finding the front of the car

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: