What are the regulations for reflective stickers on trucks?
3 Answers
Truck body and tail reflective stickers must start and end with white units, and the intersecting parts at the four corners of the truck tail must be white units. Genuine reflective stickers should bear the manufacturer's logo, 3C certification mark, and product information. The absence of these details indicates counterfeit products. Additional specifications for truck reflective stickers are as follows: 1. Truck rear: Reflective stickers should commence with white units, with corner intersections being white units, ideally displaying the rear's width and height, and must conclude with white units. 2. Truck side: Reflective stickers should start with red units, but the final unit near the tail must be white. While side stickers may have breaks, the total length (excluding gaps) must exceed 50% of the truck's side length. 3. Notes: Trucks lacking reflective stickers on sides or lower rear may receive a warning and a fine under 200 RMB if caught by traffic police.
I've been driving trucks for over a decade and know the reflective tape regulations inside out. According to national standards, all trucks must have reflective markings, especially when driving on highways at night—no cutting corners here. The rear cargo area must display alternating red and white strips to form a complete reflective outline, applied straight and evenly. The side reflective strips must be continuous without breaks, positioned between 0.5 to 1.5 meters above the ground. The most critical part is the corners, which need clearly defined angular shapes so following vehicles can accurately judge the truck's length. When applying, remember to avoid obstructions like door handles and tarp frames that block light. The reflective material must meet national Grade 3 standards, or it won’t pass the annual inspection. I’ve seen people take shortcuts by applying them diagonally, only to get pulled over and fined 200 yuan by traffic police.
As a fleet manager, I'm most concerned about the safety role of reflective tapes. The core purpose of the national mandatory requirement for trucks to have reflective markings is to prevent rear-end collisions at night. The specific regulations are quite detailed: Rear reflective strips must be arranged vertically, and trucks over 5 meters in length need at least two layers. Side reflective strips should run the entire length of the vehicle with evenly spaced red and white intervals. Pay special attention to the rear door area, which must be fully outlined with reflective tape. The material must be high-efficiency reflective film that can be clearly illuminated by following vehicles' headlights from 150 meters away. Some drivers try to cut corners with ordinary stickers, which are as good as having none. The actual effectiveness should be tested on unlit road sections - only when a complete rectangular reflection is visible does it meet standards. Never use dark-colored tapes; deep blue, gray, or black all fail to meet reflective requirements.
