Road
safety, smooth movement of traffic and overall road discipline is
largely due to the use of safety flags for many different
requirements on the road. With the use of safety flags, many major
signal are sent to road users. Danger zone ahead, over-sized vehicle
movement, on-going road work and other visual signals to maintain the
safety of road users and ensure clarity in the use of roads are
conveyed through safety flags.
One
of the most important duties of every driver and road user is to
recognize the symbols on safety and drive according to the symbols.
The many types of Safety
Flags
convey different messages for the road users to follow and ensure a
hassle free and incident free journey.
Wide
load flags: These
flags are used to send out the signal that the vehicle carrying the
flag has oversized load on it. This helps in suitably warning other
road user to be careful. Any vehicle whose load width exceeds its
carriage area by more than four inches, is categorized as an
oversized vehicle. The vehicles carrying such oversized loads are
compulsorily required to use a 'oversized load' sign and other
required safety signs and flags. Moreover, the safety flags need to
be correctly placed at the right places and all other rules regarding
the size and color of the flag need to be diligently followed. The
size of a safety flag cannot be smaller than 18 inches and the color
should be such that it attracts the attention of other users of the
road. Over-sized flags should be attached on both the front and rear
ends of the vehicle and on all sides of the load where the load
exceeds by more than 4 inches. In-case a load exceeds in length, an
appropriate safety flag needs to be attached to convey the situation.
The
dimensions of load varies from one country to another and also within
individual countries. There is legal standardization of these load
dimensions and for added safety there are rules for vehicle
surpassing legal load dimensions. Permits are given to such vehicles
on the payment of extra fees. Such vehicles carrying loads beyond
legal dimensions are allotted specific route and date for
transportation.
