Why in the uk are our licence plates different colours on the front and back of cars?

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, nothing to do with speed cameras!

Knownow't

So if its misty or foggy and night time, and your headlights pick out a number plate you will know if its the front of the car...so you could be in the wrong lane, or the back of it, and I'm OK

Ryder

so you can tell the front and back easily

DMsView

It's the very simple so you can see quickly which way a car is travelling.

You know, it it's dark and they haven't put their lights on.

But really. It is so you can tell the direction of the car at a glance.

WELLINGTONY

Can't argue with DMsView, crack on, oh well,bang go me points !!!! W

jon

Whatever the reason is, the Brits disagree with the rest of the world on this one, except for the Dutch.
Personally when I see yellow and rear ends I can only think about curry :)

daveypadua

its so that when you are in a car behind another with your headlamps on, the yellow colour on the plate of the car in front of you doesnt reflect the lights back into your eyes.

oklatom

In the UK there are laws as to the colors (colours if you prefer) that can be used on vehicles, either as illuminated or reflected. As a direct result of that they use white and amber to comply with that law.

firebobby

The rear plate is reflective. This format came in to being at the same time as the need to park a vehicle ,at night, with the lights on. The headlights of an approaching vehicle would illuminate the numberplate so negating the need to have the lights on the stationary car.
They also assist the recognition of registeration numbers with speed cameras.

hatinnicwhy

for better visibility by the cops..I dont know it could just be there strange out there.

Doctor John

It is an offence to park against the flow of traffic at night. If you were going down an unlit lane at night and on turning a corner suddenly saw a parked car, you know immediately which side to pass it by the colour of its number plate.

Nichola--x

i think so on the speed cameras, they know which way you are travelling, and which is the front and back!. Good Question Though !?

daryl parker

i have travelled seventeen times to the u.k. from australia, i have asked police, people on the street,motor mechanics,NO ONE knows why vehicles in the u.k. have yellow plates on the rear, and white plates on the front. all jokes aside,there must be a better reason than just saying it is easier to tell the front of the car from the back. could you please give me an honest and technical reason why. i even wrote to top gear u.k.,they dont even know why. i would appreciate any help you can extend to me. thank you, and look forward to your earliest reply.

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