22/08/2022
For your knowledge.
This is those good-to-know pieces of information that may not be useful to the average driver and road users
On this truck, 8 of these features are explained.
1. Clean working tail lights
2. Fire risk safety placard indicating the type of suppressant to be used in the event of a fire by a small No ranging 1 - 4. Fuel trucks will have No 3 which indicates that foam should be used in suppressing the fire.
3. Border engineering-grade reflective tape - Red or yellow at the back and sides, white at the front.
4. Emergency Action Placard - Indicates steps to be taken in the event of a fire or a spill e.g. 3YE where 3 - Class of fire risk, Y - Yes for a gas mask to be worn by emergency crew and how to manage a spill, E - Evacuation of public from area of incident
5. Toxicity Placard - can be 'Harmful to plants and aquatic life' like on this truck, or 'corrosive', 'radioactive☢', 'infectious ☣', explosive, etc
6. UN Number Placard identifying product - eg 33 1203 identifies petrol by code 1203 and 33 means the product self ignites below 60°C. Diesel would be 30 1202. 30 means it ignites above 60°C. All hazardous products have a UN code.
This placard should also contain an emergency contact number for the truck company. The placard should be posted on all sides of the truck.
7. Clean Chevrons with reflectors - as a backup in case tail lights fail or when vehicle parked at night.
8. Under ride safety bar - to prevent cars and smaller vehicles going under the truck in rear collisions (Not sure if this one qualifies. It should be about 2ft ground clearance and fixed to the chassis.)
9. This truck lacks mudguards but they should be there complete with an anti-spray flap. - They help keep the chevrons, tail lights and all those signs clean and prevent road spray and launching of debris to trailing vehicles.
10. Other features are not on this photo; like an appropriate fire extinguisher and others you may add below.
So next time you drive behind a truck, you won't be so green.