Confused concerning the legislation for displaying a pink / white striped signal on the again of your motorhome or campervan when travelling in Europe?
So had been we, so we’ve achieved the analysis for you. Right here’s all the pieces you might want to know to remain authorized if in case you have an overhanging load in your van in Europe.
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Purple & White striped boards – do you want one?
In case you are travelling in sure international locations in Europe and have ANYTHING which overhangs the size of your motorhome, you MUST show a panel board (typically referred to as a chevron board) which has reflective stripes (or slashes, for those who choose) in pink and white.
The stripes should run at 45 levels and should be displayed on ANY car with something extending the size. This is applicable to vehicles, caravans, motorhomes and campervans.
The reflective warning signal should be displayed on the rear of your motorhome/ camper, in the back of the load (so not on the again of your precise motorhome.)
You’ll want them if in case you have a:
- storage field (like ours)
- bicycle rack (even when nothing is on it)
- tow bar rack (even when nothing is on it)
- if in case you have a surfboard or one thing on the roof which extends past the again bumper
- In case you have something which makes the car wider, you need to show two boards, one on all sides.
You do NOT want one if in case you have a trailer.
It’s unclear for those who want one for those who simply have a towbar and nothing else on it. My intestine feeling is no- in spite of everything, the place would you connect it to?- however I can’t discover any definitive reply.
Which international locations are they obligatory in?
These again marker boards are obligatory if motorhoming in Italy and Spain, though they’re ‘really useful’ in a number of others.
You don’t want one within the UK if the overhang is lower than 1m.
They don’t seem to be presently obligatory when motorhoming in France, Germany or some other European nation until the load extends over 10% of the car size, however nonetheless price having- simply in case you’re like us and go detouring into random international locations with little or no planning!
What dimensions do the pink/ white board should be?
The board should be at the least 50×50 cm (minimal space of 2500cm²)
Does it matter what number of stripes?
I’ve learn that Spain requires ones with at the least 3 pink/ 3 white hatched, reflective stripes, whereas Italy appears to require 5 stripes
We’ve one with 5 pink stripes. We figured, if doubtful, extra is best.
Does it matter what the board is created from?
Yep.
In Italy, the board should be created from aluminium and have a reflective floor ‘throughout’. I’ve learn that that is just for automobiles over 12m lengthy, however can’t discover the rule to verify this. Personally, we went for an aluminium one and haven’t had any hassle in Italy or when motorhoming in Spain.
I’ve additionally learn that the Italians are much less involved concerning the materials if it has the 4 ‘reflective circles/ cats eyes’ within the corners. Nonetheless, Fiamma (an ITALIAN firm!) say that the plastic boards usually are not authorized in Italy (of their FAQs)
What makes that much more absurd/ complicated, is that Fiamma themselves solely promote the plastic boards. Which makes completely no sense!
Planning to take your motorhome to Europe?
How do you connect the board?
The pink & white striped indicators are normally simply connected to the overhanging object with elastic bungees (not normally supplied with buy so make sure you purchase some- these are good). There may be normally a gap in every nook for the bungees (or string, for those who choose) to connect to.
Which manner spherical does the stripes must level?
The stripes MUST level into the centre of the highway within the nation you might be driving in. After all, in Europe they’d all the time go from high proper to backside left (see photograph).
I suppose technically within the UK you need to cease and switch the board round to level the opposite manner, however we have now pushed all around the UK and sometimes forgotten to do that.
Can I simply use reflective tape as an alternative of an indication?
No. I believe you run the danger of being fined. Get a correct reflective rear warning board.
Which rear warning board to purchase?
Personally, I just like the pink and white warning signal varieties beneath and have by no means had an issue.
Final replace on 2023-11-18 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Pictures from Amazon Product Promoting API
