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0 . On many current models of trucks and
Page 117
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vans I notice that when the tailboard or tail-lift is dropped the registration number plate, the reflectors and the rear lights are completely covered.
Obviously during normal daylight hours this is of little importance, but at night or in murky or foggy conditions, any vehicle stationary while loading or off-loading with its rear lights and reflectors obliterated by its dropped tailboard, must inevitably pose a traffic hazard.
Could you advise me of the legal requirements in these circumstances?
A The legal requirements regarding the
visibility of rear lights, reflectors, direction indicators and number plates should still be observed when a vehicle is being loaded or unloaded over the tailboard. The law is broken if none of the lights or markings required is visible.
This subject is a recognized hazard and it is know that the SMMT is aware of it and encourages operators to ensure by some means or other that such equipment is not obscured. In the case of van bodies duplicate lights and number plate could be fixed high up on the ear of the body and on other vehicles it should be possible for tailboards to be secured in a horizontal position by a chain or the like. In many cases it is due to such a chain being broken or missing that the law is infringed. Some tailboards have holes cut in them so that lights can still be seen when they are fully lowered. Hydraulic tail-lifts when lowered are among the worst of the offenders.