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FLEET MANAGEMENT T
he number of commercial vehicles operating on UK roads continues to grow, with the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) reporting around 5.5
million on UK highways. This represents an increase of 4.1 per cent over 2020 and accounts for 13.5 per cent of total vehicles in the UK. In this increasingly congested environment,
there has never been a more important time to pay attention to vehicle markings that enhance safety, both for drivers and other road users. Fleet managers can help meet these obligations by ensuring that their vans, lorries and trailers incorporate high conspicuity chevrons, outline tapes and other markings that comply with the Department for Transport’s Chapter 8 guidelines. These specify both the minimum requirements for markings and the best practice for trucks, vans and works vehicles either stopping on or using the UK’s highways. Adherence to Chapter 8 guidelines makes an
important statement to the wider community about an operator’s commitment to safety standards. Although the guidance is not a statutory obligation, fleet owners run the risk of being judged negligent in the event of an accident in which poor markings are determined to be a contributory factor. In this environment – and notably for the desire
to be a responsible road user - public sector bodies, such as local authorities and government agencies, as well as a growing number of private logistics firms, construction business and commercial fleets have adopted these guidelines. Indeed, many organisations make Chapter 8 compliance a condition of vehicles being given access to their sites. So, there are strong commercial grounds as well as safety considerations for optimising vehicle conspicuity. In addition to Chapter 8, many also adopt ECE104 regulations, which cover the use of retro- reflective contour safety markings on heavy goods vehicles. This regulation defines both the standard of the reflective materials that should be used and how they should be positioned on the front, side and rear of vehicles or trailers. The quality of reflectivity of safety markings used on commercial vehicles is critical. Our specialists at Bluelite Group regularly advise on changes to specifications, notably in terms of which materials are recommended for use. For example, rear chevron kits should no
longer be manufactured from RA1 and RA2 level reflective materials because these no longer meet the required level of reflectivity – and therefore road safety – for vehicles on roads with speed limits over 40mph. In England, the recommendation is now that
Class R3B retroreflective materials should be used on vehicles working on higher speed roads as these possess the reflective properties that optimise vehicle visibility to other road users in all weather conditions. In Scotland and Wales, it is mandatory to use Class R3B retroreflective materials. Class R2 should now only be used to meet minimum retroreflective requirements on
MANAGING FLEET SAFETY THROUGH COMPLIANT VEHICLE SIGNAGE AND MARKINGS
highways with speed limits under 40mph. Engineering grade materials are no longer recommended for any works vehicle applications. For ultimate conspicuity, an increasing number of fleets are also turning to high quality prismatic materials that, by design, reflect high levels of light to other road users. These materials are resistant to water and dirt ingress and visible up to 140 metres in dark conditions. Fleet managers also need to be aware of guidelines advising on the position and structure of chevrons and markings. All vehicles that stop or are operating on all speeds of road should bear rear markings with upward facing chevrons in red and yellow alternating stripes. Each chevron stripe should be no less than 150mm in width (larger on big vehicles) and angled upwards between 45 and 60 degrees. The red stripes must be of retroreflective
material, designed to maximise night-time visibility, while fluorescent yellow stripes are non- reflective, providing good visibility during the day. So, it is no easy task for fleet managers to stay
abreast of the changing guidelines and regulations relating to commercial vehicle signage and markings. In response to transport industry demand, Bluelite Group established a specialist commercial vehicle markings division –
By Lorraine Avery, managing director, Bluelite Group
Chevronshop.com – some years ago to offer fleet operators of every size an easy route to specifying and ordering approved markings and chevrons. This includes providing online vehicle templates
for hundreds of commercial vehicles, enabling managers to quickly identify the markings they need in the correct design and material composition, whether for rears, sides, contours, fenders…and even whole vehicle wraps.
Bluelite Group
www.chevronshop.com
20 SEPTEMBER 2023 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS
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