What Are the DOT Requirements for Reflective Tape on a Truck?

Have you noticed red and white reflective tape on the trailers of large trucks? Commercial trailers must install reflective tape that conforms to Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. Trucking companies can guard against rear-end collisions and other accidents by doing so.

Be aware that these requirements may be relevant to you even if you’re not a trucker or otherwise involved in the trucking industry. For example, perhaps you were injured in a truck accident. If the truck didn’t have the proper reflective tape installed, you could potentially highlight this fact when pursuing compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other such losses. Discuss your case with our truck accident team at Munley Law for more information.

DOT Reflective Tape Regulations

DOT reflective tape consists of an alternate red-white pattern. You’ve likely noticed this red and white tape on the trailers of large trucks.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the rears and sides of any trailers with an overall width of at least 80 inches and a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds must be equipped with some form of reflective material or other such means to ensure greater visibility. Installing DOT reflective tape is often one way to comply with this regulation.

Failure to abide by DOT reflective tape requirements can be considered negligence.

Detailed DOT Reflective Tape Specifications

The following points offer more detail regarding how truck manufacturers and other such parties must install reflective tape to ensure they meet reflective tape requirements:

• Approved reflective materials include rectangular reflex reflectors and various forms of reflective sheeting, commonly referred to as reflective tape. DOT C2 reflective tape is a common option for commercial trucks.
• The alternating red-white color pattern is necessary to ensure the reflective tape is conspicuous (as reflective tape is sometimes referred to as conspicuity tape).
• Strips of reflective tape installed on the side of a trailer don’t need to be entirely continuous. However, the total length of all the segments must be at least half the total length of the trailer. In addition, the gaps between the segments should be spaced out as evenly as possible. In the rear sections, it may be necessary for the tape to cover the entire lower rear bar.
• When a trailer is empty or unloaded, the centerline of reflective tape along the side of a trailer must be between 15 and 60 inches above the road surface. The same is true of reflective tape installed along the lower rear of the trailer. Trucks that these reflective tape requirements apply to must also have white reflective tape or other such reflective materials installed in the upper rear areas of their trailers.

You might think these regulations have little to do with you if you don’t maintain a truck fleet. However, they may be relevant if you’ve been hurt in a truck accident.

Contact Munley Law for more information. Our legal team can help you understand how DOT tape rules for commercial motor vehicles impact your case.

Types of Accidents Prevented by Reflective Tape

The NHTSA established DOT reflective tape requirements to guard against various types of truck accidents. Specific types of truck accidents that reflective tape may be particularly effective at preventing include:

• Nighttime accidents, as the presence of reflective tape on commercial trucks, can improve visibility in low-light conditions
• Side and rear crashes, with reflective tape in these areas of a trailer, make it easier for motorists to spot semi trucks and other such large vehicles on the road
• Crashes resulting from poor weather, with reflective tape potentially helping to minimize truck accidents in foggy and otherwise unclear conditions

Determining precisely how effective these types of safety measures are can prove challenging. That said, some estimates indicate that the presence of reflective tape on commercial trucks prevents approximately 7,800 crashes on America’s roads every year.

Of course, that doesn’t mean collisions never occur. If you’ve been injured in a truck-related accident, contact our experienced attorneys. We understand how factors like reflective tape compliance can influence potential strategies.

Legal Implications of Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with laws requiring when tape must be used on tractor-trailers and similar vehicles can result in several potential consequences for trucking companies, depending on the circumstances.

For example, maybe you were injured in a truck accident. You may have grounds to file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation for your damages. To show why you’re eligible for compensation, you must prove that you were injured because the trucking company or related party was negligent.

Violating a federal law designed to ensure the safety of other drivers is, in itself, a form of negligence. Thus, if a trucking company fails to install proper DOT C2 reflective tape (or other approved materials) on its trucks in accordance with the law, that company might be held liable if collisions occur. This is on top of any fines or other such penalties imposed on the company.

Proving non-compliance, however, may require conducting an investigation. This is a task our truck accidents law firm can handle on your behalf. Contact us to begin pursuing the compensation you may deserve.

Need Legal Help After a Truck Accident?

A lawyer can help in many ways when you’re seeking compensation after being injured in an accident someone else caused. When choosing an attorney, it’s important to hire someone with experience relevant to your case.

At Munley Law, we’re thoroughly familiar with the regulations that trucking companies must abide by. We can help establish a trucking company that failed to meet DOT reflective tape requirements and that failure to meet DOT reflective tape requirements was a critical factor in your accident. That’s the type of knowledge you need on your side right now. Learn more about what we can do for you by contacting us today to set up your free consultation.