ECE104 reflectivity

BUY ECE104 TAPE FROM OUR ONLINE STORE

ECE104 is a regulation that establishes guidelines for the use of retro-reflective safety markings on heavy goods vehicles operating throughout Europe.
We offer a complete range of 3M ECE104 compliant retroreflective safety markings for rigid and curtain sided vehicles.
ECE104 is already in force and mandatory in several countries.
From July 2011, all newly registered HGVs with a mass over 7.5 tonnes and trailers with a mass over 3.5 tonnes operating in the UK, will be required by law to be fitted with retro-reflective vehicle safety markings.

Vehicle Safety Markings for ECE104 Vehicle Safety Markings required under ECE104 are 50mm to 60mm of highly reflective material that are applied to HGVs and trailers to increase their visibility. They clearly outline the rear and sides of the vehicle, making it visible at up to 1000 metres at night. This means a HGV may be seen by motorway drivers up to 8-9 seconds earlier than those without vehicle safety markings.

Night time demo video	Application demo video

Application options

REAR: A complete contour line marking (box) needs to be applied if the rear of the vehicle is wider than 2100mm. Red and yellow marking tape can be used on the rear, however the DfT states that the UK preference is red.
The conspicuity marking should be as close as practicable to the edge of the vehicle and should equate to at least 80% of the overall width of the vehicle.
SIDES: There are two options to choose from, a complete contour line marking or a partial contour marking, see image below. Partial contour markings are the minimum requirement. Yellow and white marking tape can be used on the sides, however the DfT states that the UK preference is yellow.
The conspicuity markings shall equate to at least 80% of:

• for motor vehicles, the length of the vehicle excluding the cab
• for trailers, the length of the vehicle (excluding the drawbar)

If it can be proved to the satisfaction of the authority responsible for type approval that it is impossible to achieve 80%, the cumulative length may be reduced to 60%.

Full markings	Partial markings

Upper markings:

The upper corner markings need to be as high as practicable (but within 400 mm of the upper extremity of the vehicle) and a minimum of 250mm in length.

Lower markings:

The lower contour markings must be as low as practicable within the range:

• Minimum: not less than 250mm above the ground
• Maximum: not more than 1500mm above the ground (A mounting height of 2100mm is accepable in cases where 1500mm is not possible)

Examples of full & partial markings on HGVs:

Why apply vehicle safety markings in accordance to regulation ECE104?

• To help reduce accidents and save lives
• Improve safety and increase visibility of vehicles
• Employee satisfaction that the company is proactive about safety
• Reduced accidents means less downtime and decreased repair costs
• Improve corporate image through being more proactive about safety
• Help protect your company against potential legal action related to third party safety
• To meet the regulatory requirements under ECE104.

Research and the facts

• In 2005 heavy goods vehicles represented about 1.3% of the vehicles on UK roads yet they resulted in 16% of fatal casualties caused by two vehicle accidents (DfT: 'Impact assessment of The Road Vehicle Lighting regulations amendment covering conspicuity markings on good vehicles' 2008). 
• Studies and field tests conducted over a 10 year period show that trucks marked with reflective vehicle tape are 30 times less likely to be involved in a road traffic accident, compared with unmarked ones (Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, 2004).
• Other drivers are able to notice marked trucks 5 to 8 times faster, allowing for considerably longer reaction time (Ludwig Boltzman Institute, Vienna, Austria, 2002).
• In "dark-not-lighted" conditions, the tape reduced side and rear impact crashes by 41% ("The Effectiveness of Retro reflective Tape on Heavy Trailers": NHSA, US 2001).
• The University of Darmstadt found that 37% of all side collisions with trucks at night occurred because they were seen too late. The study also estimated that, across the EU, 95% of all side and rear collisions with HGVs at night could be avoided with the use of retro-reflective truck markings.
• The conclusions show that retroreflective contour markings do improve road safety as, with them, the number of accidents and potential incidents affecting road safety are drastically reduced. (University of Darmstadt: 'Retroreflective Marking of Vehicles': 2001.)

ECE104, reflective vehicle tape, high visibility truck markings, retroreflective safety markings, vehicle safety markings, HGV hi-vis tape