Orange plate? Hazardous materials!

WARNING! DOUBLE YOUR SAFETY DISTANCE

WE 4 YOU
ASTM-SIAS Motorway Operators have undertaken to design, construct and manage high-quality roads so that they can be safe and comfortable. Moreover, we all need fuel, therapeutic oxygen, and many other products whose transport is dangerous because of their intrinsic nature.
This type of transport requires special vehicles, driven by staff with specific qualifications.
The local Health Services and the Italian Fire Brigades are ready to intervene and handle emergencies daily. However, full prevention on the roads avoids dangers to users' safety.
When you drive you must always be cautious, but even more when the risk is very high. FOR GREATER CAUTION, DOUBLE YOUR SAFETY DISTANCE WHEN THE VEHICLE BEFORE YOU BEARS AN ORANGE PLATE ON THE BACK. IF YOU HAVE TO OVERTAKE IT, DO IT WITH THE UTMOST CAUTION.

When?
When you come across a vehicle showing orange panels in addition to the number plate. In that case, you must be aware that the vehicle is transporting hazardous material as defined by the following table:

- Class 1 Explosives

- Class 2 Compressed, liquefied or dissolved gases

- Class 3 Flammable liquids

- Class 4.1 Flammable solids

- Class 4.2 Substances subject to spontaneous combustion

- Class 4.3 Substances which, in contact with water, release flammable gases

- Class 5.1 Oxidizing substances

- Class 5.2 Organic peroxides

- Class 6.1 Toxic substances

- Class 6.2 Repugnant substances that can cause infections

- Class 7 Radioactive material

- Class 8 Corrosive substances

- Class 9 Otherwise dangerous materials


What do I have to do?
Keep it at a distance and double your caution measures.

Why?
I Vehicles bearing an orange plate on the back in addition to number plates usually transport dangerous goods. When you see this type of vehicle you must be particularly careful, because an accident involving it may have very severe consequences on people, facilities and environment. The so-called "hazard plates" are used to indicate the transportation of dangerous goods. They are divided in two parts including:
* the "hazard identification number" or Kemler number above the median line
* the "substance identification number or UN number" below the median line, to allow you to identify the substance exactly.

33
1114

BENZOLE

The first digit of the hazard identification number indicates the main danger as follows:

2Gas
3Flammable liquid
4Flammable solid
5Oxidizing substance or organic peroxide
6Toxic substance
8Corrosive


The second and the third digits indicate the secondary dangers:

0No meaning
1Explosion
2Release of gas
3Flammable
5Oxidizing properties
6Toxicity
8Corrosivity
9Risk of spontaneous reaction due to decomposition or polymerization


When the first two digits are the same, it indicates an increased main danger.
Example:

66Extremely toxic substance
33Extremely flammable liquid (flash-point below 21°C)
88Extremely corrosive substance
22Refrigerated gas
42Solid which, in contact with water, can release gas
XSubstance which reacts violently with water
X333Spontaneously flammable liquid, which reacts dangerously with water
X423Flammable solid which reacts dangerously with water and can develop flammable gases


An "X" before the hazard identification number reminds you that the substance is highly reactive to water (holeum, calcium carbide, etc).

Here are some examples:

30
1202

DIESEL

 

33
1114

PETROL

 

68
****

HIGHLY CORROSIVE SUBSTANCE

55
****

STRONGLY OXIDIZING SUBSTANCE

Road Code
ART. 168 (DISCIPLINA DEL TRASPORTO SU STRADA DEI MATERIALI PERICOLOSI)

Road code implementation regulations
ART. 365 ( DEFINIZIONI)
ART. 366 (CIRCOLAZIONE DEI VEICOLI CHE TRASPORTANO MERCI PERICOLOSE)
ART. 370 (INCIDENTI IN CUI SIANO COINVOLTI VEICOLI CHE TRASPORTANO MERCI PERICOLOSE)

Robert Risktaker

advises you:

Speed is my passion … No fear in tunnels Never drive when you’re tired Don’t ...

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Edward Dash

advises you:

How to stop in case of emergency Use sos emergency call boxes Beware of fog W...

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Claudine Alwaysready

Albert Resolute

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