The Road Traffic (Carriage of Dangerous Substances in Packages etc.) Regulations 1992

Marking of vehicles carrying dangerous substances

12.—(1) The operator of any vehicle which is being used for the carriage of at least 500 kilograms of one or more dangerous substances shall ensure that the vehicle displays two rectangular reflectorised orange-coloured plates of 400 millimetres base and 300 millimetres high in conformity with the conditions specified in paragraph (3).

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall prevent the operator of any vehicle which is being used for the carriage of less than 500 kilograms of one or more dangerous substances from displaying on the vehicle the orange-coloured plates referred to in that paragraph; but where this occurs, the operator concerned shall ensure that the vehicle displays those plates in conformity with the conditions specified in paragraph (3).

(3) The orange-coloured plates referred to in paragraph (1) shall–

(a) have a black border not more than 15 millimetres wide;

(b) be affixed one at the front and the other at the rear of the vehicle in a substantially vertical plane; and

(c) be kept clean, clearly visible and free from obstruction (except that the rear plate need not be kept clearly visible and free from obstruction when the vehicle is being loaded or unloaded).

(4) It shall be the duty of the driver of any vehicle being used for the carriage of a dangerous substance which is displaying the orange-coloured plates referred to in paragraph (1) to ensure that they are displayed in conformity with the conditions specified in sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) of paragraph (3).

(5) When any vehicle displaying the orange-coloured plates referred to in paragraph (1) is emptied of all the dangerous substances being carried by it, the operator and driver of the vehicle shall ensure that those plates are completely covered or completely removed from the vehicle.

(6) Paragraphs (1) to (5) shall not apply–

(a) to the carriage of a dangerous substance to a port for carriage by sea, or from a port to which it has been carried by sea, if the vehicle or (in the case where the dangerous substance is contained in a freight container which is carried on the vehicle) the freight container is placarded in accordance with the appropriate provisions of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code issued by the International Maritime Organization as revised or re-issued from time to time;

(b) where the vehicle is being used solely for the carriage of a dangerous substance from–

(i) another road vehicle which has been damaged as the result of an accident on a road or has broken down on a road, or

(ii) a rail vehicle which has been damaged or derailed or has broken down on a railway other than a siding on which it was loaded; or

(c) where a trailer has been separated from the motor vehicle or trailer to which it was attached, except that (where the trailer thus separated is carrying at least 500 kilograms of one or more dangerous substances) the persons who were respectively regarded as the operator and driver of the combination of motor vehicle and trailer or trailers of which the separated trailer formed part shall ensure that–

(i) a single reflectorised orange-coloured plate of 400 millimetres base and 300 millimetres high, and having a black border not more than 15 millimetres wide, is affixed to the rear of that trailer in a substantially vertical plane, and

(ii) nothing is displayed on that trailer which would be likely to confuse the emergency services when read in conjunction with that plate.

(7) Paragraphs (1) to (5) shall not apply to the carriage of a dangerous substance in a vehicle which is in the service of home forces (as defined by regulation 3(2) of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989(1) (“the 1989 Regulations”)) or of a visiting force (having the same meaning in this paragraph as it does for the purposes of any provision of Part I of the Visiting Forces Act 1952(2)) insofar as the vehicle concerned is being used–

(a) in connection with training–

(i) which has been certified in writing for the purposes of regulation 7(1)(a) of the 1989 Regulations by a person duly authorised in that behalf to be training on a special occasion, and

(ii) of which not less than 48 hours' notice has been given by that person to–

(aa) the chief officer of police of every police area, and

(bb) (as respects England and Wales) the chief officer or (as respects Scotland) the firemaster of the fire brigade maintained by the fire authority for any area,

in which the place selected for training is wholly or partially situated; or

(b) on manoeuvres within such limits and during such periods as may from time to time be specified by Order in Council under the Manoeuvres Act 1958(3).

(1)

S.I. 1989/1796.

(2)

1952 c. 67.

(3)

1958 c. 7.