Both road users and contractors will have noticed more vehicles on the road with chevron markings as they drive along the highways.

The reason for this is that marking has been mandatory for safety at the sites of street works and road works since 2011, requiring conspicuity markings on all vehicles.

Details of the requirements can be found in the Department for Transport (DfT) Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 8. Chapter 8 specifies chevron markings and lighting for vehicles that have to be stationary or in use on the highway to comply with safety requirements. Chevron markings are key to ensuring fleet vehicles or contractor vans meet these requirements.

Kits

When ensuring that you have Chapter 8 chevrons that comply with the legislation, you may need to consult a specialist such as https://www.vehiclechevrons.com/. Such specialists will supply and fit kits that are designed for specific makes of vans and trucks and made to measure to meet your needs. They will also provide all the information required to ensure the livery is appropriate.

Chapter 8 is specific on the legal requirements. Any vehicle not in an established zone in which work is being carried out must be of a conspicuous colour. This is particularly the case when it is being used to protect the workforce or forming part of the signage indicating that work is underway. This will be important where part of the vehicle is visible to drivers and a sign is mounted on the vehicle.

Rear markings

Vehicles parked on the road for operations or inspections must have high-visibility rear markings, which are defined by the document. These will include alternative fluorescent strips coloured red, orange retroreflective and fluorescent yellow non-reflective stripes. The width and angle of these chevrons are specified in the DfT rules. A solid block of fluorescent orange-red retroreflective material is also required.

These markings should cover as much of the rear of the vehicle as possible; however, it is vital that no windows, lighting or registration plates are obscured by the markings.

Where the vehicle’s main chassis is not one of these colours, high visibility yellow fluorescent strips should be applied along the side not less than 50mm wide. Red reflective tape should also be applied to all rear-facing door edges visible when open and on guardrails and lockers in which equipment is stored.