Ride Drive > Motorway Driving Tips

Escorting abnormal loads was once the task performed solely by traffic police officers (roads policing officers as they are now called), but these days, escorting abnormal loads is completed by highway agency patrols and private contractors.

However, there are occasions, such as if the size of the load and vehicle is exceptionally large, even by abnormal load standards, it may still fall to the roads policing patrols to carry out the escort duties.

An abnormal load will be classed as such due to its exceptional weight, its height, width, or length of the vehicle and cargo. Long or heavy loads tend to only cause disruption through their very slow travelling speed, as being normal width, and not taking up any more physical room to that of a normal truck of the same size. However, once you get over length or over width, or both, then careful planning has to done to get the thing to where it is needed.

It is best for an over width load to take up two lanes

When an abnormal width load travels on a motorway the sensible method is for the driver to straddle lanes one and two, so as not to overhang the motorway hard shoulder. The reason the avoidance of the motorway hard shoulder space is preferable is to negate the need for the vehicle to change lanes should the driver came upon an obstruction on the motorway hard shoulder, such as a broken down vehicle.

Oversized loads are not very manoeuvrable and so there needs to be as little disruption to the flow of progress as possible. Also, when being escorted on the motorway, there is bound to be traffic tailback. Having something that is huge, heavy and cumbersome trying to change lanes is not a situation you want when car drivers are pressing to get passed the thing.

The Escort Vehicle is There to Give you Advanced Warning

When an abnormal load is being escorted on a motorway, or a dual carriageway, the escort vehicle will follow. Where the abnormal load is straddling lanes one and two of the motorway, that escort vehicle will occupy Lane–2. The distance from the escorted vehicle needs to be great enough to provide advanced warning, but close enough to discourage other traffic from getting between escort vehicle and escorted load.

On some thee–lane motorways, at the approach to a junction, it may be that the main carriageway is reduced to two–lanes through the junction, as Lane–1 becomes the slip road off, and the slip road on again at the other side.

Driver’s Have to be Patient if the Whole Road is Blocked at a Junction

Where this happens the abnormal load vehicle may have to consume the whole available width of the motorway and so following drivers will just have to be patient and wait. In order prepare for the loss of Lane–1, the escort vehicle driver will have to get into position early.

It is important that the abnormal load driver is able to see the escort vehicle, because when a lane change is necessary, that escort vehicle will have to move out to cover the lane before the abnormal load vehicle can begin to occupy it.

If you see this happening, don’t try and be clever and squeeze through the closing gap, because if you misjudge it, you are going to lose. Always keep your distance and allow the escort vehicle breathing space.

Regulations Covering Abnormal Loads

The dimensions and weight of vehicles are controlled by law, but there are rules that allow for those occasions when the dimensions need to be exceeded.

Vehicles carrying loads that have a combined weight of over 88–tonnes — 5–days notice to each police area and highways authorities along the route.

Vehicles carrying loads that have a combined weight of over 44&ndsh;tonnes — 2–days notice to each police area and highways authorities along the route.

Vehicles carrying loads that have a combined weight of less than 44–tonnes, but are abnormal in size — Each police area along the route must be informed.

Vehicles carrying loads that have a combined height which exceeds 5–meters — Haulier must inform appropriate electricity and telephone service providers for the area of the route.

Vehicle and loads with a combined width of 2.5–meters require marker boards at width extremities.

Vehicle and loads with a combined width over 2.9–meters — Police to be informed.

Vehicle and loads with a combined width over 4–meters — Escort required and 2–days notice to police areas through which the load will pass.

Vehicle and loads with a combined width over 5–metres, but less than 6.1–meters — Require authorisation by Highways Agency.

Vehicle and loads with a combined width over 6.1–meters, or over 27.4–metres long, or weighing over 150–tonnes — Special order to be applied for with Highways Agency to show agreed route and vehicle will be escorted.

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Abnormal Loads Being Escorted on Motorways

It is best for an over width load to take up two lanes

The Escort Vehicle is There to Give you Advanced Warning

Driver’s Have to be Patient if the Whole Road is Blocked at a Junction

Regulations Covering Abnormal Loads

Abnormal Loads Being Escorted on Motorways