AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Reflect on this

6th February 1976
Page 58
Page 58, 6th February 1976 — Reflect on this
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

by Les Oldridge, TEng (CE!), MIMI, AMIRTE THIS WEEK let's look at the

MARKINGS-2

need for reflectors of various kinds.

The law concerning the ordinary red reflectors to be found on the rear of all vehicles is contained in the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations, 1971.

Paragraph 7 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations deals particularly with locomotives, heavy tractors, goods vehicles or goods carrying trailers other than special trailers Jr engineering plant. It requires the fitting of two red reflectors, one at each side at the rear of the vehicle. They must be at least 21in (533.4mm) apart and each not more than 16in (406.4mm) from the extreme edge of the vehicle. They must be not more than 30in (760mm) from the rear of the vehicle and be between 15in (381mm) and 4ft Sin (1.37 metres) from the ground and at the same height.

Circular reflectors must be at least 1 in (38mm) in diameter; for other shapes the area must not be less than the area of a lfin diameter circle and of such a shape that an inch (25.4mm) circle can be inscribed upon it. The reflecting area must be of such a shape that it is capable of lying within a 6in (I52,4mm) diameter circle. Combined rear lights and reflectors are permissible.

Trailers, whether drawbar or articulated, must be fitted with two triangular reflectors with sides between 150mm (Gin) and 200mm (Sin) long and marked AU 40 L111 or L 111A. Trailers are required by Regulation 75 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1973 to carry a triangular trailer plate fitted with nine red reflectors. This plate need not be carried if the two obligatory reflectors required by the Lighting Regulations are mounted on a white background or are surrounded by a 12mm (fin wide) white border.

Motor vehicles over 8 metres and trailers over 5 metres (26.2ft and 16.4ft respectively) are required to have fitted two " side facing reflectors," amber in colour, fitted on each side. One must be fitted not more than 500mm (19.7in) from the back of the vehicle and the other within the middle third of the length of the vehicle. They must be mounted between 400mm (15.75in) and 1,200mm (47.2in) from the ground. In the case of vehicles first used before October 1, 1970, the maximum permitted height is increased to 1,500mm (59in).

The following vehicles are exempt: vehicles temporarily in this country from overseas ; public service vehicles ; broken down vehicles being towed when their total length does not exceed 8 metres ; vehicles in an unfinished condition travelling to a workshop for completion ; vehicles travelling to a port for export ; mobile cranes ; engineering plant and vehicles constructed for moving excavated materials operating under the Special Types Order.

Reflex material

Vehicle number plates on vehicles first registered on or after January 1, 1973, must be of a reflex reflecting material. The front number plate must have black letters and figures on a white background and the rear one black letters and figures on a yellow background. Only the background must be made of reflective material; the regulations specifically forbid the making of the figures or letters from it.

Reflective number plates are not required on vehicles over 3 tons unladen weight fitted with reflective markings as required by the Motor Vehicle (Rear Markings) Regulations 1970. Public service vehicles used as

stage carriages ; pedestriancontrolled vehicles, works trucks and agricultural machines are among the vehicles also exempt from having to be fitted with reflective number plates.

Next week I shall be dealing with side marker lamps and front corner marker lamps required on longer vehicles and on some trailers—further legislation aimed at making vehicles more conspicuous.

Tags

Organisations: African Union

comments powered by Disqus