SCHEDULE 2 - Warnings

Regulation 68

PART 1 - Warning lights

1.    Warning lights

(1) A warning light on an oversize vehicle or combination or a pilot vehicle must –

(a) when illuminated, emit a rotating, flashing, yellow coloured light; and

(b) when illuminated, flash between 120 and 200 times a minute; and

(c) have a power of at least –

(i) in the case of an LED light, 25 watts; and

(ii) in all other cases, 55 watts; and

(d) not be a strobe light; and

(e) be clearly visible at a distance of 500 metres in all directions or supplemented by one or more additional warning lights so that the light emanating from at least one of them is clearly visible at a distance of 500 metres in any direction.

(2) Despite subclause (1) , in the case of a pilot vehicle travelling in front of an oversize vehicle or combination, a filter may be placed behind the warning light on the pilot vehicle, to reduce the intensity of the light directed to the driver of the oversize vehicle or combination.

PART 2 - Warning signs

Division 1 - General

1.    Warning sign must be clean

A warning sign must be kept clean and unobscured so that it can be read by other road users.

2.    Face of warning sign

(1) The face of a warning sign must have a yellow surface which complies with Class 1 or 2 of Australian Standard AS 1906, Retro-reflective Materials and Devices for Road Traffic Control Purposes, 1990 , Parts 1 to 4 (inclusive), as amended and in force at the commencement of these regulations.

(2) The face of the warning sign must have a black border at least 20 millimetres wide.

(3) The outermost edge of the border must be set at least 10 millimetres in from the edge of the sign unless the sign has been made with a box edge.

(4) The warning sign must have its manufacturer's name or trademark permanently marked in letters at least 3 millimetres but not more than 10 millimetres high.

(5) The marking may appear in any visible location on the sign, except in a bottom corner of a sign used on a pilot vehicle.

3.    Material for warning sign

(1) A warning sign must be made of stiff, flat, weatherproof material.

(2) Despite subclause (1) , a sign on an oversize vehicle or combination may be made of flexible material if the vehicle or its load is unsuitable for a stiff sign.

Division 2 - Oversize vehicles

4.    Size of warning sign

(1) A warning sign on an oversize vehicle or combination must be at least 1.2 metres long and at least 450 millimetres high.

(2) The sign may be split into 2 parts, in which case the combined length of its parts must be at least 1.2 metres.

5.    Face of warning sign

(1) A warning sign on an oversize vehicle or combination must show the word "OVERSIZE" , in black upper-case lettering, conforming with Australian Standard AS 1744, Forms of Letters and Numerals for Road Signs , in typeface Series C(N).

(2) The lettering must be at least 200 millimetres high.

(3) The top and the bottom of the lettering must be at least 125 millimetres from the top and bottom of the sign, respectively.

(4) If the sign is split into 2 parts –

(a) the part mounted on the left must show the letters "OVER" and the part mounted on the right must show the letters "SIZE" ; and

(b) despite clause 2(2) and (3) of Division 1 of Part 2 , there must be no border between the 2 parts.

6.    Mounting warning sign

(1) A warning sign on an oversize vehicle or combination must be mounted vertically.

(2) The lower edge of the sign must be –

(a) above the bottom of the bumper bar; or

(b) if there is no bumper bar, at least 500 millimetres from the ground level.

(3) If the sign is split into 2 parts, the parts must be fitted at the same height.

Division 3 - Warning signs on pilot vehicles

7.    Size and shape of warning sign

(1) A warning sign on a pilot vehicle must be at least 1.2 metres long and at least 600 millimetres high.

(2) The sign may have bottom corner cut-outs not more than 150 millimetres wide and not more than 100 millimetres high if they are needed for mounting the warning lights.

8.    Faces of warning sign

(1) Both faces of a warning sign on a pilot vehicle must show –

(a) the word "OVERSIZE" , in black upper-case lettering at least 200 millimetres high, conforming with Australian Standard AS 1744, Forms of Letters and Numerals for Road Signs , in typeface Series C(N); and

(b) the words "LOAD AHEAD" , in black upper- case lettering at least 100 millimetres high, conforming with Australian Standard AS 1744, Forms of Letters and Numerals for Road Signs , in typeface Series D(N).

(2) The bottom of the lettering of the word "OVERSIZE" must be at least 300 millimetres from the bottom of the sign.

(3) The bottom of the lettering of the words "LOAD AHEAD" must be at least 100 millimetres from the bottom of the sign.

9.    Warning sign not to lean back

A warning sign on a pilot vehicle must not lean back so that there is more than 200 millimetres measured horizontally from the top of the sign to a vertical line running through the bottom of the sign.

PART 3 - Pilot vehicles

1.    Requirements for pilot vehicle

(1) A pilot vehicle must have 4 or more wheels and a GVM of –

(a) 6.5 tonnes or less in the case of a rear pilot vehicle if 2 pilot vehicles are required; or

(b) 4.5 tonnes or less in any other case.

(2) A pilot vehicle must have a warning sign on its roof.

(3) A pilot vehicle must only have a warning light attached –

(a) above or below the sign; or

(b) at each side of the sign.

2.    Headlights on pilot vehicle

The low-beam headlights on a pilot vehicle must be switched on when it is accompanying an oversize vehicle or combination during the daytime.

3.    Pilot vehicle not to tow, &c.

A pilot vehicle must not –

(a) tow a trailer; or

(b) carry a load, other than tools, equipment or substances for use in connection with the oversize vehicle or combination that it is accompanying or for restraining the load on that vehicle or combination.

4.    Location of pilot vehicle

(1) If only one pilot vehicle accompanies an oversize vehicle or combination, the pilot vehicle must travel –

(a) behind the oversize vehicle or combination if they are on a divided road; or

(b) in front of the oversize vehicle or combination if they are on a road that is not divided.

(2) If 2 pilot vehicles accompany an oversize vehicle or combination, one pilot vehicle must travel in front of the oversize vehicle or combination, and the other behind it.

(3) A pilot vehicle must travel far enough away from the oversize vehicle or combination it is accompanying to give adequate warning to other road users of the presence of the oversize vehicle or combination, taking into account traffic speed, weather, visibility and other driving conditions.

5.    Communication between drivers

(1) In this clause –

agricultural machine means a machine with its own automotive power, built to perform agricultural tasks.

(2) An oversize vehicle or combination and any accompanying pilot vehicle must have an electronic device that allows the drivers to communicate effectively with each other.

(3) Subclause 2 does not apply to –

(a) an oversize agricultural machine; or

(b) an oversize combination that includes an agricultural machine.

Displayed and numbered in accordance with the Rules Publication Act 1953 .

Notified in the Gazette on 25 June 2014

These regulations are administered in the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the regulation)

These regulations, which are made consequentially on the repeal of the Vehicle and Traffic (Vehicle Operations) Regulations 2001 under section 11 of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1992 , make provision in relation to –

(a) mass and dimension limits of vehicles; and

(b) the towing of vehicles; and

(c) loads on vehicles; and

(d) driving hours; and

(e) the issuing of exemptions; and

(f) other miscellaneous matters.