Pole and utility vehicles/trailers – Georgia

Amber strobe lamp requirement

Any motor vehicle or trailer transporting a load of logs, long pulpwood, poles, or posts which extend more than four feet beyond the rear of the body or bed must have securely affixed as close as practical to the end of any such projection one amber strobe type lamp equipped with a multidirectional type lens mounted to be visible from the rear and both sides of the projecting load.

If the mounting of one strobe lamp cannot be accomplished so that it is visible from the rear and both sides of the projecting load, multiple strobe lights must be utilized to meet these visibility requirements.

The strobe lamp must:

• Flash at a rate of at least 60 flashes per minute;
• Be plainly visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the rear and sides of the projecting load any time of the day or night; and
• The lamp must be operating at any time of the day or night, when the vehicle is operated on any highway, parked on the shoulder, or immediately adjacent to the traveled portion of any public roadway.

LED light alternative

In lieu of the strobe type lamp or lamps, one light-emitting diode (LED) light equipped with a multidirectional type of lens, mounted to be visible from the rear and from both sides of the projecting load.

If the mounting of one LED light cannot be accomplished so that it is visible from the rear and from both sides of the projecting load, multiple LED lights must be utilized to meet these visibility requirements.

The LED light(s) must:

• Be amber in color;
• Flash at a rate of at least 60 flashes per minute; and
• Be plainly visible from a distance of at least 500 feet from the rear and sides at a radius of 180 degrees of the projecting load at any time of the day or night.

Any LED light:

• Must be constructed of durable, weather resistant material;
• May be powered by the vehicle’s electrical system or by an independent battery system, or both; and
• If powered by an independent battery system, the driver must have charged, spare batteries for use in case of battery failure.

Any solid-state LED lighting that consists of multiple LED lights:

• Must have at least 85 percent of the LED lights in operable condition; and
• The lights must remain in operation at any time of the day or night, when the vehicle is operated on any highway, parked on the shoulder, or immediately adjacent to the traveled portion of any public roadway.

Permit

An emergency light permit, as provided for in Ga. Code § 40-8-92, is not required on a vehicle utilizing a LED light to comply with the provisions of this Code section.

Flags

Flags must be located to indicate the maximum width of loads which extend beyond the rear of the vehicle. There must be a single flag at the extreme rear of the projecting load if the projecting load is two feet wide or less. Two such warning flags are required if the projecting load is wider than two feet.

The flag(s) must be:

• Bright red or orange fluorescent color;
• Not less than 18 inches square;
• Clearly visible and displayed in such a manner that the entire area of the flag is visible from the rear of the vehicle.