Oversize vehicles or vehicles carrying very large loads must have special signs on them. They may also have pilot vehicles to warn other road users to take care.

If you see one of these signs or pilot vehicles when you’re driving, you should slow down. If the oversize vehicle or load is coming towards you, you may need to pull over and stop to let it pass. Look for instructions from the pilot vehicle driver who may be holding a stop/slow paddle, a red traffic baton, or a red flag.

Oversize sign

The sign will be on the oversize vehicle. If you see this sign when driving, drive carefully until the vehicle has passed. The vehicle may be very big, so give it plenty of space on the road.

Yellow rectangle sign that reads oversize, with black border.

Pilot vehicles

When a vehicle is carrying a large load, it may be accompanied by a pilot vehicle, with flashing orange roof lights and a sign on the roof, to warn other road users.

Yellow rectangle sign that reads wide load follows, written across two lines with a black border. It's mounted on to the roof of a white car with orange flashing lights.

Very large loads

If a vehicle’s load is very large, 2 pilot vehicles will travel ahead of it.

The first pilot vehicle will have flashing orange and purple roof lights and a roof-top sign that says Danger slow down.

If the pilot vehicle is in front of the load, the sign will say either Long load follows or Wide load follows.

If the pilot vehicle is behind the load, the sign will say either Long load ahead or Wide load ahead.

The second pilot vehicle will have flashing orange roof lights and a roof-top sign that says Wide load follows.

Yellow rectangle sign that reads danger slowdown, written across two lines with a black border. It's mounted on to the roof of a white car with orange and purple flashing lights.

Important!

If you see an oversize sign or a pilot vehicle with flashing lights, slow down and be prepared to pull over and stop. Look for any instructions from the pilot vehicle driver.