Q I drive a boxvan 16ft long, which carries ladders, the
Page 80
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
longest being 18 or 20ft. Thus the vehicle is on the road with 2ft or 4ft poking out the back of the van. What is the legal maximum overhang and at what length overhang are nearside and rear triangle markings needed ?
From what part of the vehicle is overhang measured : is it from the rear lights or the back of the vehicle ?
A The restrictions which are imposed on vehicles carrying long or wide loads are contained in Regulations 130 and 131 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1973.
Answering the second part of your query first, Regulation 130 provides for the extent of the projection (in your case a rearward projection) to be measured from the rearmost point of the vehicle.
Regulation 131 provides for overall lengths of vehicles and loads in sub-section (3). Here, if a load is carried on one vehicle being a heavy motor car (that is over 3 tons unladen) or a trailer, the overall length of the vehicle and any forward or rearward projection must not exceed 27.4 metres (891t 10.74in).
Sub-section (6) (b) states that if the load projects to the rear between 1.07 metres and 1.83 (Mt 6.12in and 6ft 0.048in) then the relevant projection shall be made clearly visible to other roadusers (a piece of coloured rag would be sufficient).
This would appear to cover the longest projection you are likely to encounter in the circumstances you have outlined. It is only if the projection exceeds 1.83 metres that the question of side or rear triangle markings arises.