New EU legislation for reflective tape on vehicles

Date: 19-04-2011

If you are a truck driver or fleet manager you ought to be aware of a new legislation coming into effect in July 2011 regarding reflective tape. The new legislation is coming into force on trucks and trailers first registered after 10th July 2011 and will affect various aspects of goods vehicle operation. The major changes come as a result of the UK's Department for Transport (DfT) reluctantly having to adopt United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) regulation 48. The reflective marking tape increases night time visibility and effectively reduces the chances of accidents. From July 2011, all newly registered HGVs over 7.5 tonnes and trailers over 3.5 tonnes will require reflective conspicuity markings that clearly outline the rear and sides of the vehicle to make it visible for up to 1000 metres at night. ECE104 specifies the standard for the reflective material that must be used, and where and how it must be positioned on the vehicle or trailer.

About ECE104

• ECE104 is a regulation that establishes guidelines for the use of retro-reflective safety markings on the rear and sides of heavy goods vehicles operating throughout Europe
• It requires that homologated retroreflective markings be applied to rigid, curtain and tanker vehicles with a mass over 7.5 tonnes or trailers that have a mass over 3.5 tonnes
• The reflective material must carry the “E-mark” which means the tape meets the minimum requirements of the regulation
• Markings will be mandatory in the UK from July 2011, and may be full or partial, provided minimum requirements are met
• Red or yellow markings must be used for the rear of the vehicle, as close as practicable to the edge of the vehicle
• Yellow or white markings may be used for the side of vehicles, covering at least 80 per cent of its length
• The reflective markings must be 'Class RA2' or 'microprismatic' (e.g. 3M™ Diamond Grade™ DG³ reflective sheeting) in the case of rear markings and 'high visibility fluorescent or non fluorescent yellow reflective' in the case of side markings
   

Application of the markings:

                                                                                             

 Full contour marking                                                                                                    partial contour marking

Why do you need to mark the vehicles?

• Conspicuity markings reduce accidents and save lives. Studies conducted over a 10 year period show that well marked trucks are 30 times* less likely to be involved in a road traffic accident
• Improve safety and increase visibility of vehicles. Other drivers are able to notice marked trucks 5 to 8 times faster**, allowing for considerably longer reaction time and safer driving/overtaking
• Fewer accidents mean less downtime, less contracts missed and savings on repair costs
• Improve corporate image through being more proactive about safety
• Protect your company against potential legal action related to third party safety
• Reassures and motivates drivers to know that your business takes their safety seriously
• To meet the regulatory requirements under ECE104 from July 2011

*Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, 2004 **Ludwig Boltzman Institute, Vienna, Austria, 2002 



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