Road safety, smooth movement of traffic and overall road discipline is largely due
to the use of safety flags for many different requirements on the road. With the use of safety flags, many major signal are sent to road users. Danger zone ahead, over-sized vehicle movement, on-going road work and other visual signals to maintain the safety of road users and ensure clarity in the use of roads are conveyed through safety flags.
One of the most important duties of every driver and road user is to recognize the symbols on safety and drive according to the symbols. The many types of Safety Flags convey different messages for the road users to follow and ensure a hassle free and incident free journey.
Wide load flags: These flags are used to send out the signal that the vehicle carrying the flag has oversized load on it. This helps in suitably warning other road user to be careful. Any vehicle whose load width exceeds its carriage area by more than four inches, is categorized as an oversized vehicle. The vehicles carrying such oversized loads are compulsorily required to use a 'oversized load' sign and other required safety signs and flags. Moreover, the safety flags need to be correctly placed at the right places and all other rules regarding the size and color of the flag need to be diligently followed. The size of a safety flag cannot be smaller than 18 inches and the color should be such that it attracts the attention of other users of the road. Over-sized flags should be attached on both the front and rear ends of the vehicle and on all sides of the load where the load exceeds by more than 4 inches. In-case a load exceeds in length, an appropriate safety flag needs to be attached to convey the situation.
The dimensions of load varies from one country to another and also within individual countries. There is legal standardization of these load dimensions and for added safety there are rules for vehicle surpassing legal load dimensions. Permits are given to such vehicles on the payment of extra fees. Such vehicles carrying loads beyond legal dimensions are allotted specific route and date for transportation.