XN000022-1987-08-02 — Page 5

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 1987

UNDER THE NEW PERMIT CONDITIONS, A LONG LOAD OR WIDE LOAD PERMIT WILL ONLY BE ISSUED TO THE REGISTERED OWNER OF A MEDIUM OR HEAVY GOODS VEHICLE WHOSE OVERALL LENGTH IS AT LEAST 9.1 METRES.

IN THE CASE OF LOADS WHICH OVERHANG MORE THAN TWO METRES ΤΟ THE FRONT OR MORE THAN THREE METRES TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE,

THE LENGTH OF THE CONVEYANCE VEHICLE MUST AT LEAST BE 10 METRES.

ESCORT VEHICLES TO THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE LOAD-CARRYING VEHICLE IS ALSO MADE MANDATORY, AN ESCORT VEHICLE MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH AN AMBER FLASHING LIGHT AND MUST DISPLAY IN A PROMINENT POSITION EITHER A "LONG LOAD" OR "WIDE LOAD" SIGN, DEPENDING ON THE LOAD ESCORTED, TO WARN OTHER MOTORISTS.

"TO ENSURE THAT THE 'LONG LOAD' OR 'WIDE LOAD' SIGNS ARE CLEARLY VISIBLE TO OTHER ROAD USERS, THE SIGN ON THE FRONT ESCORT VEHICLE MUST BE DISPLAYED TO THE FRONT FACING ONCOMING VEHICLES WHILE THAT ON THE REAR ESCORT VEHICLE SHOULD BE DISPLAYED TO THE REAR FACING TRAFFIC TRAILING BEHIND.

"ALTERNATIVELY, THE SIGNS MAY BE MOUNTED ON THE ROOF OF THE ESCORT VEHICLES AND IN THAT CASE, THE SIGNS MAY BE DOUBLE-SIDED, SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.

THE

HE ADDED THAT THE DESIGN, COLOUR AND DIMENSIONS OF THE "LONG LOAD" AND "WIDE LOAD" SIGNS MUST COMPLY WITH THE STANDARDS LAID DOWN IN THE PERMIT CONDITIONS.

MOREOVER, THE FITTING OF FLASHING AMBER LIGHTS ON ESCORT VEHICLES SHOULD BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS. APPROVAL FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINATION DIVISION HAS FIRST ΤΟ BE SOUGHT BEFORE THESE LIGHTS ARE FITTED.

"PAST RECORDS SHOW THAT MOST LONG LOADS INVOLVED DURING TRANSPORTATION WERE STEEL REINFORCING RODS AND ESCORT AND SIGNING REQUIREMENTS, OTHER ROAD USERS WILL SUFFICIENT WARNING NOT TO COME TOO CLOSE TO THE VEHICLES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN FURTHER STRESSED THAT EVEN WITH A WIDE LOAD PERMIT, THE HEIGHT OF ANY LOAD WHEN PLACED VEHICLE MUST NOT EXCEED 4.6 METRES ABOVE THE GROUND.

IN ACCIDENTS WITH THE NEW NOW BE GIVEN LOAD CARRYING

LONG LOAD OR ON THE GOODS

"THE PROVISIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE LOADING OF VEHICLES RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT CONTAINS A FULL CHAPTER ON

THE PROPER WAY TO DEAL WITH LONG AND WIDE LOADS,

++ HE POINTED OUT.

BE

APPLICATIONS FOR THE LONG LOAD OR WIDE LOAD PERMIT SHOULD MADE TO THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT'S LICENSING OFFICES WHILE ENQUIRIES ON THE NEW REQUIREMENTS CAN BE MADE ON 5-262982 OR 3-77114306.

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