Forklift trus on the highway

[neddyw]

Are there rules regarding the level (height) of the forks of a FLT when travelling on or near a highway? Do the same rules apply to a tractor with forks attached?

[webbo3]

I'm not sure about rules but a FLT should ALWAYS be driven with the load as close to the ground as possible and the forks tilted back just off level for traveling.

http://ww2.runnymede.gov.uk/environt/health_sa fety/FLT_guide.pdf

see page 8

Dave.

[sddsddean]

Although I would agree with webbo3's answer for 'on site' applications, I believe it is usual to drive forklifts/tractors/loadalls with the forks up on a public road so as to reduce the chance of injury to pedestrians, though I don't know if there is any legal requirement. I was once stopped by the cops in my (then) car the day after I had pranged the front of it (lights smashed, bodywork damage etc). I explained I was taking it to be repaired. They said that was fine and they were not so much worried about the missing lights, but that if I was in collision with a pedestrian the damaged bodywork would inflict worse injuries than 'normal' bodywork.

[webbo3]

I should have said about a foot off the ground, the examiner who just passed me last week said theis was its better to hit someones shin than ankle as there are more bone and bit in the ankle resulting in a worse injury.
This is with empy forks, with a laden truck providing the forks are not protruding from the front of the load then drive with the load as close to the ground as possible ......3-4 ins.

Dave

[sddsddean]

Ah well, if an examiner says so, fair enough Dave. Just going by what I've seen. Saw a bloke when I was loading at a German factory jump off his FLT to have a go at his mate for not doing something right. He turned around not realising he was about 12 " from the raised tines at head height, and headbutted the end of the tine. If it had been 2" lower, he'd have lost an eye. Moral: thats why you park with the tines on the floor!!

[webbo3]

I agree with that, a parked forklift should always have the forks on the ground and tilted forward.

Dave.

[neddyw]

Thanks for your answers. I drove into the forks of a tractor that were sticking out into the road. I could not see them as they blended in with a drystone wall. I made a mess of the passenger side door pillar and lost my wing mirror. If they had been sticking out another couple of inches i would have had the car roof taken off and my 1yr old son who was in the back of the car would have lost his head. The tractor driver claims that the acdident was my fault because he was stationary. I say its his fault because of how he was positioned.

[webbo3]

According to what you have just said the forks were at waist height (wing mirror damage), far to high for travel thaey should have been at shin height as i said earlier, imagine if you were a motorcyclist, the forks would have cut you in half rather than hitting the wheels and throwing you in the road giving you a chance of survival.
the tractor drive is at fault as far as i can see.


Dave.

[buildersmate]

So the driver allowed his vehicle to be in a position where the vehicle was hidden yet part of it was protruding into the public highway in a dangerous manner with no identification or warning?
I think that is worth fighting for.

[neddyw]

Thanks again, will let you know what happens