Road safety
Abnormal loads
Staffordshire Police no longer routinely provide police escorts for abnormal indivisible load movements but offers support and recommends using suitably experienced and equipped self or private escorts. A self or private escort is required when a load exceeds the following dimensions:
Motorways - M6, M6 Toll and M54
Escort arranged and controlled by Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG)
Width - over 4.6m wide
Weight - over 130 tonnes
Length - discretional
Specified Roads
A5 Finning (UK) to Gailey
A34 North from Redhill Stafford
A38 throughout Staffordshire
A449 Gailey to M54 Junction
Width - 4.3
Over - 100 tonnes
Length - discretional
All other roads
Width - over 4.1m wide
Length - over 27.4m rigid length
Weight - over 100 tonnes
These dimensions are only a guide and the Chief Constable reserves the right to impose different criteria on individual loads or roads, as deemed necessary.
The escort's purpose is to warn the abnormal load's driver, and any other person, of any danger likely to be caused by the vehicle. A small number of special loads that need detailed planning arrangements, such as moving street furniture, will still require police escorts. These will be provided at the applicant's expense.
Restriction on Movement
Staffordshire Police does not allow routine movement of abnormal indivisible loads on non-motorway roads during the hours of darkness, except with written permission from the abnormal loads department in each case.
The movement of abnormal indivisible loads on Staffordshire motorways during the hours of darkness is generally permitted. However, some special loads, which by their nature or route would not be suitable, will not be permitted to move during the hours of darkness. This specifically applies to loads entering or exiting the motorway system.
The Chief Constable reserves the right to impose other restrictions on the movement of abnormal indivisible loads, as to the time, date and route as defined in The Construction and Use Regulations and The Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Type) General Order 2003.