Thread: Merging onto a highway, when there is a pilot vehicle

Originally Posted by austastar

Hi,
True, but neither does the load.
I'm thinking plastic pipe that could be bungee strapped across roof racks either across for escorts duties or long ways for normal driving.
Cheers

But then the pilot would need a pilot.
The pilot has to be able to see up both sides of the load to relay information to the truckie.

Originally Posted by BMKal

You should (in WA at least) be able to tell if a load is more than 4.5m wide by the lights displayed on the front of the lead pilot vehicle. WA pilot vehicles are required to be fitted with "wig wag" lights in addition to the amber flashing lights on the roof. "Wig wag" lights are generally two low powered (55W or less) driving lights mounted on the front of the vehicle which flash alternately, left and right. These lights should only be used if the following load is 4.5m wide or greater.

The problem is that a lot of the numb nuts behind the wheel of pilot vehicles these days think it is "cool" to have as many flashing lights running on their vehicle as possible, and have their "wig wag" lights turned on with any size load, completely defeating the purpose of these additional lights.

A bit of a description in this link ................... https://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/Docu...5E23398873.PDF

Everyone from fire engines, police etc to pilot vehicles use wig wag lights these days so there is no way the average punter would know that on a pilot vehicle they mean get off the road.

(I suppose in retrospect, if they are used on emergency vehicles, does the wig wag light have an intended meaning of "get out of my way"??? This has not been readily communicated to the public IMO.)