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Animal Drawn Vehicles Only – R131 Road Sign

The Animal Drawn Vehicles Only road sign, identified as R131, is a South African regulatory command sign used to indicate that a public road or portion of a public road is set aside for animal-drawn vehicles only.

R131 gives a mandatory instruction to drivers of animal-drawn vehicles that they shall use the designated public road or portion of road where the command applies. It also means that other classes of road users shall not use the public road or road section indicated by the sign.

R131 forms part of the South African road traffic sign system for controlling road use according to vehicle class. The official South African Road Traffic Signs Manual places R131 within the group of vehicle-specific command signs from R116 to R131.

What Does the R131 Road Sign Mean?

The R131 sign means Animal Drawn Vehicles Only.

It indicates that the relevant public road or portion of a public road has been specifically set aside for animal-drawn vehicles.

Drivers of the applicable vehicle class are required to use the designated roadway where the command applies. Other classes of road users shall not use the public road or portion signed with R131.

R131 is a command and regulatory sign, not simply a warning sign. It communicates a mandatory road-use instruction to the applicable vehicle class.

What Are Animal-Drawn Vehicles?

Animal-drawn vehicles are vehicles that are drawn by animals rather than being propelled by a motor.

Depending on the vehicle and its use, examples can include:

• Animal-drawn carts
• Wagons
• Carriages
• Farm carts
• Other animal-drawn transport vehicles

The exact legal classification of a particular vehicle should be determined according to the applicable South African traffic legislation and requirements.

Where Are R131 Signs Used?

R131 is intended for situations where a public road or portion of a public road has specifically been set aside for animal-drawn vehicles.

Potential applications can include:

• Designated rural transport routes
• Road sections with segregated vehicle facilities
• Rural transport infrastructure
• Agricultural areas
• Routes serving rural communities
• Specialised traffic-management projects
• Major transport facilities with vehicle-class segregation
• Complex developments where different vehicle classes require separate routes

The official manual notes that R116 to R131 class-specific command signs are likely to be used relatively rarely. However, they can provide traffic control where segregated facilities by vehicle class are appropriate, including major transport terminals and complex commercial developments.

R131 and Traffic Management

Animal-drawn vehicles can have different operating characteristics from motor vehicles. A designated road or road section can therefore be used where traffic-management arrangements require a particular vehicle class to follow a specific route.

R131 provides a standardised instruction to the applicable road users and can form part of a wider traffic-management system.

Additional signs and road markings may be required depending on the surrounding road environment, vehicle movements and traffic-management requirements.

R131 Compared With R130

R131 Animal Drawn Vehicles Only should not be confused with R130 Agricultural Vehicles Only.

• R130: Agricultural Vehicles Only.
• R131: Animal Drawn Vehicles Only.

These signs apply to different vehicle classes. R130 is intended for agricultural vehicles, while R131 identifies a roadway specifically set aside for animal-drawn vehicles.

R131 and Other Vehicle-Only Command Signs

R131 forms part of a wider group of South African regulatory command signs for specific classes of vehicle.

The R116 to R131 series includes:

• R116: Motor Cycles Only
• R117: Motor Cars Only
• R118: Taxis Only
• R119: Minibuses Only
• R120: Midi-Buses Only
• R121: Buses Only
• R122: Delivery Vehicles Only
• R123: Goods Vehicles Only
• R124: Goods Vehicles Over Indicated GVM Only
• R125: Construction Vehicles Only
• R126: Vehicles Conveying Dangerous Goods Only
• R127: Abnormal Vehicles Only
• R128: Rickshaws Only
• R129: Tour Buses Only
• R130: Agricultural Vehicles Only
• R131: Animal Drawn Vehicles Only

These signs allow specific public roads or road sections to be designated for particular vehicle classes where appropriate.

R131 Sign Placement

The South African Road Traffic Signs Manual states that signs in the R116 to R131 series should be displayed at the beginning of a roadway that has specifically been set aside for the class of vehicle indicated on the sign.

This means an R131 sign should be positioned at the point where the designated animal-drawn vehicle route begins, allowing road users to see the command before entering the relevant roadway.

The manual also states that the size and positioning of R116 to R131 signs should follow the general requirements for regulatory signs.

R131 Sign Size and Positioning

There is not one universal physical size that applies to every R131 installation. The applicable sign size and mounting arrangement depend on the regulatory sign requirements and the road environment.

Factors that may need to be considered include:

• Road classification
• Approach speed
• Available sight distance
• Road layout
• Traffic conditions
• Sign location
• Other nearby traffic signs
• Potential visual obstructions

For an official public-road installation, the responsible road authority should determine the appropriate application, size and positioning in accordance with the applicable requirements.

R131 Road Sign Design

The permanent R131 Animal Drawn Vehicles Only sign uses the standard South African regulatory sign design.

The official specification provides:

• Border: White retroreflective
• Symbol: White retroreflective
• Background: Blue retroreflective

The sign should be manufactured according to the applicable R131 specification and standardised symbol rather than being replaced with a generic custom animal or cart symbol.

Temporary Animal Drawn Vehicles Only Sign – TR131

The temporary version of R131 is designated TR131.

The South African Road Traffic Signs Manual states that temporary versions of the R116 to R131 series, where required, are numbered from TR116 to TR131.

For TR131, the specified temporary design uses:

• Inner border and symbol: Black semi-matt
• Background and outer border: Yellow retroreflective

Temporary versions may be used where a temporary traffic arrangement, roadworks, traffic deviation or detour requires a vehicle-class command. The official manual notes that these temporary versions are unlikely to be required frequently.

R131 and Retroreflective Materials

The permanent R131 specification uses retroreflective materials for the sign background, border and symbol.

Retroreflective materials are designed to return light towards its source, such as vehicle headlights, helping the sign remain visible under appropriate night-time conditions.

The appropriate sign material, dimensions, construction and mounting method should follow the applicable South African road-sign specification and the requirements of the installation environment.

Animal-Drawn Vehicle Routes

Where a public road has been specifically designated for animal-drawn vehicles, the route may form part of a wider traffic-management arrangement.

Depending on the surrounding road environment, additional signs may be required to communicate:

• Directions
• Speed restrictions
• Warnings
• Stop requirements
• Give-way requirements
• Pedestrian movements
• Access restrictions
• Route information

The appropriate combination of signs depends on the road layout, vehicle movements and traffic-management requirements.

R131 and Rural Road Traffic

Animal-drawn transport can form part of road traffic in some rural environments. Where a specific public-road facility has been created for this vehicle class, appropriate regulatory signage can communicate the intended road-use arrangement.

R131 should only be used where the relevant roadway has actually been designated for animal-drawn vehicles. It should not be installed simply because animal-drawn vehicles are occasionally seen in a particular area.

R131 on Private Property

The official R131 designation applies to a public road or portion of a public road.

Private farms, rural properties, developments and controlled sites can use suitable site-specific signage to manage animal-drawn vehicles and other traffic. However, a privately installed sign should not automatically be assumed to have the same legal status as an official public-road R131 regulatory sign.

Private-site signage should be selected according to the property's traffic-management requirements and applicable local or site regulations.

Who May Need R131 Signs?

R131 signage may be relevant to organisations and authorities managing public-road facilities where animal-drawn vehicles need to be accommodated or separated from other traffic, including:

• Road authorities
• Municipalities
• Rural transport projects
• Transport infrastructure projects
• Rural developments
• Agricultural areas
• Traffic-management projects
• Major transport facilities
• Developments requiring segregated vehicle routes

Benefits of Clear Animal-Drawn Vehicle Signage

• Clearly identifies a roadway designated for animal-drawn vehicles.
• Communicates the applicable vehicle-class command.
• Helps drivers understand which roadway applies to their vehicle.
• Can support separation between different vehicle classes.
• Can form part of a wider traffic-management system.
• Provides a standardised instruction at the beginning of the designated roadway.

South African Road Signage

Signs4SA supplies regulatory, road, traffic-management and safety signage for applications across South Africa.

When requesting an R131 sign, it is useful to provide the R131 sign code, required dimensions, quantity and intended installation location.

For official public-road applications, the applicable South African road-sign specifications and requirements of the responsible road authority should be considered before manufacture and installation.

Frequently Asked Questions About R131

What does the R131 road sign mean?

R131 means Animal Drawn Vehicles Only. It indicates that a public road or portion of a public road has been set aside for animal-drawn vehicles and requires the applicable vehicle class to use that designated roadway. Other classes of road users shall not use the indicated section.

Is R131 a warning sign?

No. R131 is a command and regulatory sign. It communicates a mandatory road-use instruction for animal-drawn vehicles.

What is R131 used for?

R131 is used where a public road or portion of a public road has specifically been set aside for animal-drawn vehicles.

What is the difference between R130 and R131?

R130 is the Agricultural Vehicles Only command sign, while R131 is the Animal Drawn Vehicles Only command sign. They apply to different vehicle classes.

Where should an R131 sign be installed?

The SARTSM states that R116 to R131 signs should be displayed at the beginning of the roadway specifically set aside for the indicated class of vehicle.

What is the temporary version of R131?

The temporary version is TR131. Where required, it follows the temporary regulatory-sign design with a yellow retroreflective background and outer border and a black semi-matt inner border and symbol.

Is R131 commonly used on South African roads?

The South African Road Traffic Signs Manual states that the R116 to R131 class-specific command signs are likely to be used relatively rarely. It notes that they can nevertheless be useful where segregated vehicle facilities are appropriate, particularly at major transport terminals and complex commercial developments.

Can R131 be used with other road signs?

Yes. Depending on the traffic arrangement, R131 can form part of a wider system that includes warning, directional, speed, stop, give-way, pedestrian and other regulatory signs.

Can R131 be used on private property?

Private properties can use suitable vehicle-specific signage to manage animal-drawn vehicle movements. However, the official R131 designation applies to a public road or portion of a public road, so private-site signage should be selected according to the site's requirements.

Can Signs4SA supply R131 signs?

Yes. Signs4SA can assist with Animal Drawn Vehicles Only – R131 road signs and other regulatory, traffic-management and safety signage. Provide the required sign code, dimensions, quantity and installation requirements when requesting a quotation.

Order Animal Drawn Vehicles Only – R131 Road Signs

Need Animal Drawn Vehicles Only – R131 road signs for a designated route, rural transport project or traffic-management application?

Contact Signs4SA to discuss your R131 signage requirements, provide your specifications and request a quotation.

Animal-drawn vehicles only signs come in a variety of styles and formats, including danger signs, warning signs, and caution signs. Danger signs are used to indicate an immediate threat that could cause serious injury or death, such as high voltage areas or hazardous materials. Warning signs are used to indicate potential hazards that could cause injury, such as slippery floors or falling objects. Caution signs are used to indicate potential hazards that could cause minor injury, such as low ceilings or uneven surfaces. Another type of safety sign is the Animal-drawn vehicles only sign, which is used to provide guidance on safe behavior. These signs can include instructions on how to use equipment or machinery safely, as well as reminders to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) or follow specific safety protocols. Animal-drawn vehicles only signs can also be used to ensure compliance with safety regulations. For example, fire safety signs are required by law in most public buildings and workplaces. These signs indicate the location of fire exits, fire extinguishers, and other fire safety equipment.

More About Animal-drawn vehicles only

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