British vehicle registration plates?

Question

Recently, I was asked by a visiting Dutch couple "why do British vehicles have a white front registration plate and a yellow rear one, when other countries plates are the same colour?" neither I or any motor mechanic could answer it anybody help us out? thanks

Answer 1

British registration plates are reflective.
Black lettering on a white background is the most legible.

However, a white reflector (or any white light source apart from a reversing light) is illegal on the rear of a vehicle in the UK, so the rear plate cannot be white. Black lettering on a yellow background is almost as legible as on a white background, so rear plates are yellow.

Answer 2

British number plates are required to be reflective. Whilst black on white is the optimum for this requirement, it was recognised that this would cause glare to anyone driving in the dark. Black on yellow reduces the glare significantly to anyone driving behind another vehicle in the dark.

Answer 3

So one can quickly identify the direction of travel absent other visual queues. Such as a vehicle at night traveling without headlamps.

Answer 4

The answer to the question is they will be 60 and 10 unless the goverment changes the registration system again before this point.

Answer 5

So the front and back can be identified in the dark. Useful to the police.

Answer 6

its from the old days - 70s, it was so a following could tell you direction, probably for snow and haevy rain - its for health and safety