Lighting Of Trucks

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31754, 10 August 1968, Page 12

Lighting Of Trucks

Sir, —May I draw attention to another hazard—inadequate rear lighting of truck trays. I have been told that a truck

displaying one red rear light and two reflectors is obeying the regulations, but there are far too many occasions when this fails to define the limits of the tray adequately. This can and does lead to serious accidents. If regulations are being obeyed and tray-light-ing is inadequate, then the regulaions need to be changed. In any case, some positive action is needed to reduce this danger on the roads.—Yours, etc., F.E.M. August 7, 1968. [The district officer of the Transport Department (Mr D. L. Hogan) replies: “The traffic regulations require every heavy goods service vehicle and every other vehicle fitted with a tray or deck—and this would include trailers—to have a rear light fitted within 12 inches of the outside edge of the vehicle. This light must be on at all times at night, even when the vehicle is parked under a street light. In addition, each such vehicle must have a red reflector of a diameter of not less than 2] inches displayed within 6 inches of each rear comer. Provided this equipment is kept in good condition it should be adequate to warn of the vehicle's presence and indicate its width.”]