Contour marking
Contour markings are highly reflective materials that are applied to vehicles to improve their visibility. In the states of the European Union , these have been mandatory for certain new vehicles since 2013.
background
Tests have shown that conspicuous markings made of retroreflective material significantly increase the visibility of vehicles. Vehicles equipped with this can be seen much earlier, especially in difficult visibility conditions (wet, fog, darkness). Accordingly, on the proposal of the European Commission, the European Union decided in the EC Directive 2007/35 / EC that larger commercial vehicles must be equipped with contour markings that indicate the horizontal and vertical dimensions (length, width and height).
Regulation in Germany
In Germany, the provisions of this directive are implemented by Section 53 (10) of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO). According to this, since August 1, 2013, all new trucks with a gross vehicle weight over 7.5 t and trailers over 3.5 t must be equipped with a red or yellow contour marking on the rear if they are wider than 2.1 m . White or yellow markings are required on the sides if the vehicle is longer than 6 m.
Vehicles placed on the market before the specified date but after July 10, 2011 must be retrofitted accordingly.
In addition, contour markings are permitted for certain vehicle classes , but not mandatory : These include larger buses ( EC vehicle classes M 2 and M3), tractor units , trucks of class N2 (if not more than 7.5 t), trailers of class O2 and certain other trucks and trailers.
Contour markings are not permitted on passenger cars (including station wagons ) (vehicle class M1) or on vehicles with a special purpose such as mobile homes or hearses . Because of the delimitation from the truck, the glare effect on a relatively smaller vehicle area and the necessary distance between the markings and the three brake lights , contour markings on cars do not make sense either.
Contour markings are also permitted (but not mandatory) on emergency vehicles equipped with blue lights within the meaning of Section 52 (3) of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO).
Only contour markings for which ECE approval has been granted may be used . This can be recognized by the international approval mark , which u. a. Consists of a circle with the letter "E" and the code of the country that issued the approval. If markings are affixed without this marking, the operating license of the motor vehicle could expire if the design is very strict . The type of attachment is also regulated in a binding manner.
Picture gallery
Contour marking on a truck with a fixed body
Contour marking on a silo truck
Nocturnal comparison of two identical trucks with and without contour marking
Reflective advertising within the lateral contour marking
Web links
- Section 53 (10) of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO)
- Directive 2007/35 / EC of the European Commission of June 18, 2007. (PDF)
Remarks
- ↑ Legal definition : Contour marking is a conspicuous marking that is used to indicate the horizontal dimensions and the vertical dimensions (length, width and height) of a vehicle. Conspicuous marking is a device that serves to increase the visibility of a vehicle from the side or from the rear (or, in the case of trailers, also from the front) by reflecting light emanating from a light source that is not attached to the illuminated vehicle with the observer in the vicinity of this light source.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Contour markings on commercial vehicles ( memento of the original dated January 2, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Dekra press release of November 6, 2013. Accessed December 7, 2014.
- ↑ Directives (PDF) Directive 2007/35 / EC of June 18, 2007.
- ↑ Uniform conditions for the approval of retroreflective markings for vehicles of class M, N and O ( Memento of the original from January 2, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 1.1 MB) website of the Federal Ministry of Transport ; accessed on December 27, 2014.
- ↑ Regulation No. 48 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN / ECE): Uniform conditions for the approval of vehicles with regard to the installation of the lighting and light signaling devices ( Memento of the original of August 4, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was used automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 6.4 MB) Website of the Federal Ministry of Transport; Retrieved December 6, 2014.
