Health and Safety Training Manual: Appendices

The Society for engineering in agricultural, food, and biological systems (ASAE), which develops standards for specific agricultural equipment and materials, has a standard for the design and manufacture of Slow-Moving Vehicle (SMV) emblems. This standard specifies the quality and durability of the yellow-orange fluorescent triangle that provides daylight identification of slow-moving vehicles. Under this standard, the fluorescent center-piece is fade resistant, making it durable over an extended period of time.

One important feature of this standard is the placement of the manufacturer's name and address on the emblem and a statement that this emblem meets the requirements of the ASAE. An example of this certification and location is shown on the SMV below. Requirements for the SMV emblem are also summarized:

emblem

  1. General rule--All implements of husbandry and special mobile equipment designed to operate at 25 miles per hour or less and all animal-drawn vehicles shall, when traveling on a highway, display on the rear of the vehicle a reflective slow-moving vehicle emblem as specified in regulations of the department. The use of the slow-moving vehicle emblem shall be in addition to any other lighting devices or equipment required by this title.
  2. Limitations on use or display--No person shall use or display the slow-moving vehicle emblem except as provided in this section nor shall any person display the emblem on a vehicle traveling at a speed in excess of 25 miles per hour.
  3. Towed vehicles--The emblem shall be required to be displayed on a slow-moving vehicle which is being towed on a highway unless the towing vehicle displays the emblem in such a manner as to be clearly visible from the rear.

The term "highway" as used in the Code, is officially defined as "the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to public use for purposes of vehicular traffic."

Emblems that have a metal or plastic backing, as well as decal emblems, are suitable for use. The emblem should be seen from a distance of at least 600 feet day or night. The fluorescent yellow-orange center is the most visible color in daylight, and the red reflective border is highly visible in headlight beams after dark.

Farmers should replace faded SMVs with newer emblems as soon as they begin to fade. All slow-moving vehicles should have the ASAE standard SMV emblem properly displayed at all times.

For questions on obtaining SMV emblems, contact EH&S at 737-2273.