Slow Moving Vehicle triangle reflector sign used as driveway marker?

[buickanddeere]

?

Still waiting for somebody to post up the actual law and not supposition.

Already told you section 76 of the Ontario Highway traffic act. Do you think we are making this up? Are you too lazy to look up the info?

 

[Ted Summey]

From the United States Federal Register

Title 29 → Subtitle B → Chapter XVII → Part 1910 → Subpart J → §1910.145
10) Slow-moving vehicle emblem. This emblem (see fig. J-7) consists of a fluorescent yellow-orange triangle with a dark red reflective border. The yellow-orange fluorescent triangle is a highly visible color for daylight exposure. The reflective border defines the shape of the fluorescent color in daylight and creates a hollow red triangle in the path of motor vehicle headlights at night. The emblem is intended as a unique identification for, and it shall be used only on, vehicles which by design move slowly (25 m.p.h. or less) on the public roads. The emblem is not a clearance marker for wide machinery nor is it intended to replace required lighting or marking of slow-moving vehicles. Neither the color film pattern and its dimensions nor the backing shall be altered to permit use of advertising or other markings. The material, location, mounting, etc., of the emblem shall be in accordance with the American Society of Agricultural Engineers Emblem for Identifying Slow-Moving Vehicles, ASAE R276, 1967, or ASAE S276.2 (ANSI B114.1-1971), which are incorporated by reference as specified in §1910.6.

 

[oosik]

I just had another thought. I don't want a reflective triangle sign at the end of my driveway telling those few no-goods that I might have agricultural equipment down here for the taking. Theft of farm equipment is bad enough - don't need to advertise what you own.

 

[Sodo]

Sometimes I'm inclined to erase the (tractor) tire tracks exiting and entering my driveway if I'm gonna be away for awhile.

 

[drdoolittle]

From the United States Federal Register

Title 29 → Subtitle B → Chapter XVII → Part 1910 → Subpart J → §1910.145
10) Slow-moving vehicle emblem. This emblem (see fig. J-7) consists of a fluorescent yellow-orange triangle with a dark red reflective border. The yellow-orange fluorescent triangle is a highly visible color for daylight exposure. The reflective border defines the shape of the fluorescent color in daylight and creates a hollow red triangle in the path of motor vehicle headlights at night. The emblem is intended as a unique identification for, and it shall be used only on, vehicles which by design move slowly (25 m.p.h. or less) on the public roads. The emblem is not a clearance marker for wide machinery nor is it intended to replace required lighting or marking of slow-moving vehicles. Neither the color film pattern and its dimensions nor the backing shall be altered to permit use of advertising or other markings. The material, location, mounting, etc., of the emblem shall be in accordance with the American Society of Agricultural Engineers Emblem for Identifying Slow-Moving Vehicles, ASAE R276, 1967, or ASAE S276.2 (ANSI B114.1-1971), which are incorporated by reference as specified in §1910.6.

While that is a valid law, it is an OSHA law and not applicable universally. That's why states are starting to explicitly add the provisions in there traffic legislation. Based on OSHA scope, as a farmer employing just my family members (myself), I am technically out of scope for them to enforce this. It's better to get it into traffic code to make it easier for the law officers.

 

[Threepoint]

From the United States Federal Register

Title 29 → Subtitle B → Chapter XVII → Part 1910 → Subpart J → ｧ1910.145
10) Slow-moving vehicle emblem. This emblem (see fig. J-7) consists of a fluorescent yellow-orange triangle with a dark red reflective border. The yellow-orange fluorescent triangle is a highly visible color for daylight exposure. The reflective border defines the shape of the fluorescent color in daylight and creates a hollow red triangle in the path of motor vehicle headlights at night. The emblem is intended as a unique identification for, and it shall be used only on, vehicles which by design move slowly (25 m.p.h. or less) on the public roads. The emblem is not a clearance marker for wide machinery nor is it intended to replace required lighting or marking of slow-moving vehicles. Neither the color film pattern and its dimensions nor the backing shall be altered to permit use of advertising or other markings. The material, location, mounting, etc., of the emblem shall be in accordance with the American Society of Agricultural Engineers Emblem for Identifying Slow-Moving Vehicles, ASAE R276, 1967, or ASAE S276.2 (ANSI B114.1-1971), which are incorporated by reference as specified in ｧ1910.6.

Thanks for posting this. As I understand it, the quoted section is a rule promulgated by OSHA, so would apply only to employers subject to OSHA regulation (typically private businesses in the U.S.). That covers a lot of folks, but it would not regulate the conduct of Harry Homeowner nailing an SMV emblem to his mailbox post. That would be regulated (if at all) by state or local law, as in the case of those places mentioned in several posts above. Just searching a bit on the Web, I haven't seen a nationwide survey of the state, provincial, municipal or other jurisdictional requirements on this issue in the U.S. or Canada. Now there's a project for a TBN member with an excess of down time.

I, myself, also haven't personally run into (no pun intended) such "off-label" use of the SMV emblem, but it sure would seem to be contrary to common sense when reflective tape and other marker devices are so readily available, and cheaper.

 

[jlgurr]

...would seem to be contrary to common sense ...

Therein lies the crux of the problem. Common Sense is slowly and gradually becoming extinct.

 

[stuckmotor]

I pass two of those slow moving vehicle triangles on my way out to the farm. They bug me too. If the law has time to make sure I'm buckled up, it seems like they'd have time to make the home owners take down the reflectors.

 

[mikehaugen]

LOL - and why would someone drive purposefully into a SMV in the fog/blizzard? Shouldn't they be trying to slow down and not hit the supposed tractor? If they can't safely drive slow enough to be able to brake in time to not hit the mailbox, I'd say they already had made a poor decision.

Dumb laws to protect dumb drivers if you ask me. The signs are meant to indicate its attached to something your not supposed to drive into.

LOL

The problem I see with this is that if someone is diving in fog and can't see the road well and they see an smv triangle off to the side (which would presumably be on a vehicle) they may steer towards it thinking they are off the road.

 

[drdoolittle]

The problem I see with this is that if someone is diving in fog and can't see the road well and they see an smv triangle off to the side (which would presumably be on a vehicle) they may steer towards it thinking they are off the road.

Which is my point exactly. What if I had stopped my tractor off the road on the shoulder and was over investigating a potential fence issue (or other items on my property)?

It's like using hazard flashers on a car. Some states it's illegal to drive with them - you should be stationary to use them - and others it's not. For some people in fog, they drive into parked vehicles with flasher going because their mind set is not to avoid the potential danger but more of "oh - there's the road...". They probably should have slowed down far enough to truly follow the road or stopped driving completely if you truly cannot see past your hood.

Not that I'd use the SMV on my mailbox and not advocating it for anyone. I just think the sign's base purpose is to say "avoid me" and not "follow me" or "here's the road", etc.

For those that are quickly slowing down to just find out it's a mailbox - I completely understand the annoyance.