A slow-moving vehicle sign is a reflective orange triangle with a red border, used to warn other drivers that the vehicle displaying it is traveling slower than the normal speed of traffic. It is required on vehicles that cannot reach or sustain speeds greater than 25 or 40 mph depending on jurisdiction. The sign is typically placed on the rear of the vehicle, centered and at a height between 0.6 meters (2 feet) and 2 meters (6 feet) above the road.
Purpose and Description
- The sign warns motorists to slow down due to the vehicle's slow speed.
- It is fluorescent orange with retroreflective borders for visibility day and night.
- The emblem must be clean, undamaged, and not faded for effectiveness.
Vehicles That Require the Sign
- Construction equipment
- Farm machinery and "implements of husbandry"
- Street sweepers, forklifts
- Low-speed vehicles (max speed around 25 mph)
- Horse-drawn vehicles unless exempted for religious reasons (where reflective tape is used instead)
Regulations and Usage
- Must be displayed prominently on the rear.
- If towing, sign should be on the rear of the towed object.
- Not to be used on fixed objects like mailboxes or signs.
- Signs need periodic replacement as they fade over time.
- Typically used for vehicles traveling 25 mph or slower in the US or slower than 40 km/h in Canada.
This sign is essential for safety to alert faster-moving traffic of a slow- moving vehicle ahead and prevent collisions.
