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The Rear Markings Regulations
Page 87
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IMPROVEMENTS made to vehicles sometimes bring other problems in their wake. In recent times there has been a marked increase in braking efficiency of commercial vehicles following stricter standards laid down by legislation and technical improvements made by the manufacturers. This, quite obviously, has increased the risk of following traffic colliding with the rear of lorries when they are braked.
The Motor Vehicles (Rear Markings) Regulations 1970 are aimed at making the rear of goods vehicles more conspicuous and to warn following traffic, intending to overtake, of their length. Presumably, it is thought that if the back of a lorry is seen more easily and, therefore, earlier, then the risk of colliding with it will be less. Although the new legislation, once again, puts the fleet operator to additional trouble and expense it may be some consolation to realize that the new markings are intended to reduce accidents involving commercial vehicles. How effective these new measures will be remains to be seen.
Sixteen exceptions
The Regulations, which come into effect on November 1, 1971, require that vehicles over 3 tons unladen weight be fitted with rear reflective markings. As is common with traffic law, the Regulations having laid down a rule then sets out 16 exceptions to the rule; it will be wise to look at these exceptions first. They are:—
(a) passenger vehicles; (h) trailer caravans not exceeding 2 tons unladen weight; (c) land tractors, land locomotives, land implements and conveyors, agricultural trailers and industrial tractors; .(d) works trucks and works trailers; (e) vehicles in an unfinished condition travelling to a works for completion or to a place for storage or to be displayed for sale; (D the drawing unit of an artic; (g) broken-down vehicles being towed in consequence of the breakdown; (It) engineering plant; (i) a vehicle designed and used for carrying two or more wheeled motor vehicles (ie car transporters): (i) a trailer drawn by a public service vehicle; (k) fire-fighting and fire salvage vehicles; (I) vehicles for servicing or controlling aircraft; (m) a vehicle travelling to a place for export; (n) a vehicle brought temporarily into Great Britain by a person resident abroad; (o) vehicles in the service of a visiting Force; (p) a motor vehicle first used before January 1. 1940.
Five types There are live different ty. pes of markers as illustrated left. They are of red fluorescent and yellow reflecting material and must comply with British Standard Institution's specification number BS AU 152. There is, of course, a subtle difference between fluorescent and reflective. Fluorescence is a coloured luminosity
produced in certain substances by incident light or other electro-magnetic radiations of shorter wave-length while reflective, in this context, means reflecting back light or colour.
One would imagine that the red fluorescent stripes would be particularly effective in daylight while the yellow reflective ones would come into their own when they are picked up by the headlamps of following vehicles at night.
Rigid vehicles not exceeding 13 metres (42ft 8in.) in length and trailers in combination not exceeding 11 metres (36ft lin.) must be fitted with the markers illustrated in Figure 1 or 2. If the vehicle construction is such that it is impracticable without undue expense or risk of damage to the markings for them to be fitted in either of these ways then they may be fitted as in Figure 3.
Trailers Trailers in combination between 11 metres and 13 metres can be fitted with the marking illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 4 or 5 and if this is impracticable as in Figure 3. If rigid vehicles or trailers in combination exceed 13 metres then they must be fitted with the markers illustrated in Figure 4 or 5.
The rear markings must be in the form of plates and must be marked with the appropriate British Standard marks. They must not project beyond the outermost part of the vehicle. They must be horizontal and the lower edge must be between 400mm (15.748in.) and 1700mm (66.93in.) from the ground, whether the vehicle is laden or unladen. Each plate must be fitted so that it lies within 20 degrees of a transverse vertical plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Types shown in Figures 1 and 4 must be fitted centrally and those in Figures 2, 3 and 5 must be installed symmetrically about the centre line of the vehicle and as close to the outside edges of the vehicle as possible.
Visible at all times The markers must be fitted so that all of their surface is clearly visible at a reasonable distance to the rear of the vehicle at all times. If, however, it is impracticable for the marking to be fitted so that it can be seen when the vehicle is being loaded or unloaded, for example when a tailboard covers the markings when it is let down. then this is acceptable.
Finally, the markings must be maintained in a clean and efficient condition during the whole time the vehicle is being used on a road.