What must vehicles with an overhanging load do at the front and rear?

Vehicles with an overhanging load must carry a red flag at both the front and rear to ensure visibility and safety on the road. The use of a red flag is a standard method to alert other drivers about the protruding load, making them aware of the potential hazards it presents. This practice helps to prevent accidents by providing a clear visual cue that the vehicle's dimensions exceed the normal size, allowing other road users to adjust their behavior accordingly.

While options such as installing reflective tape, having a warning horn, or using an appropriate cover may enhance safety in different contexts, they do not specifically address the requirement for signaling an overhanging load in the way that a red flag does. Reflective tape, for instance, improves visibility at night but does not provide the immediate, visual warning that a flag does. Similarly, a warning horn is used for alerting others in a more general sense, and a cover might serve to protect the load rather than indicate its presence or dimensions to other drivers. Thus, carrying a red flag is the most recognized and effective means of signaling an overhanging load.