Chapter 8

Chapter 8 is from the Traffic Signs Manual and is a list of specifications of requirement for commercial and work vehicles. It addresses the need for chevron safety markings and lighting on vehicles in order to be safety compliant. Chapter 8 is not yet legislation, but many highway organisations have adopted these guidelines as best practice and will only allow Chapter 8 compliant vehicles onto their work sites. Commercial Vehicle Contracts can make sure your business lease vehicle is chapter 8 compliant before the vehicle is delivered to you.

Do I need to worry about Chapter 8 requirements?

All commercial vehicles need to make sure that they are Chapter 8 compliant. This means that if your vehicle will be stopping or in use for business and work purposes on any highway or high speed road, then the following criteria must be met:

• Fluorescent yellow retroreflective striping

Not less than 50mm wide along the length of the vehicle or the vehicle should be of a conspicuous colour (white or yellow).

• Highway maintainance labels or motorway maintenance labeling

Vehicles that operate on motorways only. The text must be a minimum of 70mm high for temporary traffic management vehicles and 140mm for all other vehicles carrying personnel or equipment.

• Reflective door strips

Red reflective tape to all rear facing edges of doors, guardrails and equipment lockers.

• Reflective red & fluorescent yellow chevrons

(Standard or Premium Chapter 8 Kits) in a specified layout covering as much of the rear facing portion of the vehicle as possible for vehicle forming part of the roadworks.

• Additional markings

Where rear facing high visibility markings may be obscured by any device mounted on the vehicle (e.g. cherry picker bucket) high visibility markings should also be applied to the face of the device

For the best van contract hire and leasing deals, contact us, and find out how we can ensure your business vehicle is Chapter 8 compliant.