The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads has issued a Vehicle Standards Instruction (Heavy Vehicle 24.0) portable document file (PDF) to address two anomalies in the design and manufacture of roadtrain and long vehicle warning signs.
The Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Vehicle Standards and Safety) Regulation 2010 states that these warning signs must be at least 1.2 metres in length, 250 mm wide and have black capital letters 180 mm high. These dimensions are supported by part two of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and Traffic Control (TC) signs.
However, a previous TC manual labelled a roadtrain sign diagram with a lettering height of 160 mm, which was incorrect. Due to this discrepancy, a number of sign manufacturers have produced signs with 160 mm lettering and some of these signs are currently fitted to vehicles or are available for purchase.
The second anomaly identified is in relation to the length of the warning signs. The current Queensland minimum length of 1.2 metres is not consistent with the national standard of 1.02 metres, which is used by the majority of the other states and territories. To address this inconsistency, the Queensland legislation will be amended to reflect the national standard of 1.02 metres.
Transport inspectors and Queensland police officers have been directed not to issue a defect or infringement notice for signs that have 160 mm high lettering and/or that are 1.02 metres long. This instruction will remain effective for the next five years.
Click here to view the Vehicle Standards Instruction (Heavy Vehicle 24.0) PDF.
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