Safety trianglesaustralia

The recent RMS publication titled Changes To The NSW Road Rules 1 November 2012 includes a more clearly defined set of guidelines on the use of portable warming triangles. See extract:

Safety trianglesfor trucks distance

If a driver of a heavy vehicle (with a GVM greater than 12t) stops or has a fallen load on a road with a speed limit of 80km/h or more and the vehicle is not visible for 300 metres in all directions, three warning triangles must be placed on the road: One triangle must be placed 200-250 metres behind the vehicle or fallen load; One triangle must be placed 200-250 metres in front of the vehicle or fallen load; and One triangle must be placed by the side of the vehicle or fallen load. On a road with a speed limit of under 80km/h and the vehicle is not visible for 200 metres in all directions, three warning triangles must be placed on the road:

One triangle must be placed 50-150 metres behind the vehicle or fallen load; One triangle must be placed 50-150 metres in front of the vehicle or fallen load; and One triangle must be placed by the side of the vehicle or fallen load.

On a one-way road or divided road, three triangles are still required. However, instead of placing the triangle in front of the vehicle, this triangle should be placed between the vehicle or fallen load, and the triangle behind the vehicle.