car expertA special transport is not easily overlooked. It is extra long, heavy or wide and often cars and motorcycles of the transport escort drive around it. But what are the rules for this type of transport, asks reader Marcel Heijnen. Our car expert Niek Schenk answers.
Question: ‘I wonder what exactly the rules are for heavy transport. I often come across such a transport with or without escort, or only with flashing lights. How exactly is this arranged?’
Auto editor Niek Schenk replies: ‘An extra heavy, long or wide transport can be recognized by the signs ‘convoi exceptionnel’ or ‘exceptional transport’. This concerns road transport that does not fit within the existing rules in terms of dimensions or weight. For example, a lorry in the Netherlands may not weigh more than 50,000 kg. For equipment such as a telescopic crane, this is 60,000 kg. Everything that is heavier and still has to be transported by road falls under exceptional transport, according to Rijkswaterstaat.
By arranging this transport separately, it can be prevented that the transport gets stuck on slip roads or in built-up areas. A permit must be requested in advance from the RDW for such a transport. A special route is then put together that takes tight bends, narrow streets or low viaducts into account. Sometimes road signs are even removed. The time is also carefully chosen. That is why you mainly see such a transport in the evening and at night: when it is quiet on the road.
A traffic coordinator is appointed for each transport. If a transport is extremely wide or long, one or more cars must provide transport guidance. They drive in front of, behind or next to the transport to keep other road users at a distance and to warn them in time. The transport itself must be equipped with signaling panels and (yellow) orange flashing lights.’
Our car editor Niek Schenk answers reader questions every week. Mail your question to [email protected]
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2023-08-06 16:15:15
#Convoi #Exceptionnel #rules
