This TAP is under review. A new edition will be published in 2024.

If you’d like to contribute your thoughts to the review, email engineering@truck.net.au

This second edition of the ATA’s Technical Advisory Procedure on heavy vehicle visibility includes extensive technical advice on the placement of contour marking tape, key material and dimensional requirements, and applicability to vehicle types.

Vehicles enrolled in the NSW Safety, Productivity and Environment Construction Transport Scheme (SPECTS) must have full contour marking (SPECTS business rules, s4.6). This TAP can be used as a guide to what is required. The TAP is also referenced in NHVR vehicle standards guide 11, Fitting of additional reflectors and conspicuity markings.

Installing reflective tape on trucks to improve their visibility could reduce some types of accidents between trucks and cars by up to 44 percent.

In both the United States and Europe, the installation of retroreflective tape has resulted in major reductions in accidents, including when visibility is critical at dusk and overnight.

The updated advisory procedure also makes it clear that US style red/white block stripe markings are not legal in Australia.

The procedure was developed by the ATA’s Industry Technical Council, and peer reviewed by Ivan Babic, Manager, Signs and Delineation Assets, NSW RMS.