Hi all,
Our experience in Africa is they were never asked for on the West side at all.
We got fined for having no front reflective tape in Zambia. Needed to be white and on the extremities of the vehicle ie. either end of bumper.
Having sorted this, we then got done in Tanzania for only having front tape but no rear. No amount of discussion and pointing out that we had reflectors built into our rear light clusters anyway made any difference. They want red reflective TAPE on the rear corners ie. under/above light clusters, as well as the white on the front.
I believe it's also required in Malawi & Mozambique.
Not sure about further north on the east side.
We were never asked about side reflectors.

Happy travels
Sam

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http://capetocapeblog.wordpress.com/

New regs in Zim require "commercial vehicles" to have a 50mm wide red reflective ("diamond grade") strip all across the rear to within (I think) 350mm of the edge of the vehicle.
The old requirement for white reflective tape on the front still stands.
Apparently the interpretation of "commercial vehicle" can potentially also be applied to pick-ups, landrovers etc if you're unlucky....

In Namibia (Keetmanshoop in particular), the police are very keen on picking up vehicles without "country" stickers (ie "GB") - lots of South Africans have been caught by this one.

Ian

Hi there

I will shortly be taking delivery of my truck in Dubai and heading out to Africa in April. The plan is to circumnavigate the whole continent in about 20 months, ending up in Morocco, from Sudan, via 'the usual' East coast to S.A. then back up the West coast route.

I was searching for advice on the 'rules and regs' of vehicle markings in Africa so am raising this old thread. The general consensus seems to be white / amber / red markings on the front / side / rear but I've also heard that a solid yellow stripe is also needed on the sides (was that S. Africa?), and I assume different countries have different ideas about what constitutes the minimum size of markings?

In the U.A.E. I will need to fit black and yellow chevron stickers to both the rear and the sides of the vehicle - these are sold typically about 75cm long and whilst the rules seem to be randomly applied, I'll be having at least two on the sides and two on the rear. No need for front reflectors here.

So....what's the current thinking on this - any recent experience gratefully received - I guess I'll be carrying lots of reflective tape!

The vehicle is 6x6 and 7m+ long, though less than 7 tonnes, so will I'm sure be adjudged to be 'truck like' or 'commercial vehicle' like rather than compared to a Defender / Cruiser for example.