Page 74 - Driving Commercial Vehicles Manual

driving commercial vehicles

Flashing lights
fast fact
Flashing lights may be mounted and used on motor vehicles under the
You must have a permit from following conditions:
Commercial Vehicle Safety
and Enforcement before you • red flashing lights are used only on emergency vehicles
mount amber flashing lights • blue flashing lights are used only on police vehicles
on a vehicle.
• amber flashing lights are used on construction vehicles, towing vehicles,
tow cars that are attending, snow-removal equipment, sanding equipment,
pilot cars, and vehicles that are required by permit to use them, such as
some oversize vehicles or vehicles carrying oversize loads (see chapter 5,
skills for driving trucks and trailers).

A police vehicle has both
red and blue flashing lights.

Disabled vehicles

Any vehicle is a hazard when it’s parked on the side of a road. Large vehicles
driving tip present more significant hazards. In most cases, drivers are required to put out
approved warning devices when they park their commercial vehicles at the
Recommended safety side of the road in an area that isn’t designated for parking.
equipment:
These commercial vehicles must carry approved warning devices:
• flags or flares
• all vehicles with a seating capacity of more than 10 passengers
• fire extinguisher
• first aid kit. • all commercial vehicles with an overall width of more than 2.3 m
You never know when you • all commercial vehicles with a load width of more than 2.3 m.
might need it.
When parked in the dark, these commercial vehicles must have a minimum of
two warning devices.
During daylight hours, the minimum for approved warning devices is:
fast fact
• two red flags that measure at least 30 cm by 30 cm, or
Only approved warning • two warning devices that have been approved for daylight use — including
devices should be used to flares, fuses and reflectors.
mark the location of disabled
vehicles. At night, you may use flares, fuses, reflectors and red lanterns.
If your vehicle becomes disabled:
• move it as far off the travelled portion of the highway as possible
• place warning devices approximately 30 m ahead and 30 m behind the
disabled vehicle.
Note: It’s a good safety practice to place additional warning devices further
than 30 m from your vehicle.

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