Driving with boot open

markjack98

Is it legal to drive with your car boot open? I need bring a river runner kayak across the city (Dublin). Ideally, I'd like to use the M50 but am happy to drive through town, whichever is safer. I presume attaching a high viz to the back of the kayak and securely mounting it in the car would be okay.
I can't see anything in the rules of the road about it!

Cheers

mikeecho

Perfectly legal.
Just make sure nothing falls out.

Del2005

Illegal if your reg is on the boot lid, it has to be visible from behind. If the load hangs more than a meter over the vehicle it needs lights.

markjack98

Del2005 wrote: »

Illegal if your reg is on the boot lid, it has to be visible from behind. If the load hangs more than a meter over the vehicle it needs lights.

Shouldn't be more than a metre but will measure it. Would it be ok to attach a printed out version to end of it or would I have a to get another plate done up?

freddieot

Will your lights \ indicators still work and be visible ?

Del2005

markjack98 wrote: »

Shouldn't be more than a metre but will measure it. Would it be ok to attach a printed out version to end of it or would I have a to get another plate done up?

The chance of being stopped by a Garda is slim. No harm in sticking the reg on the back.

markjack98

freddieot wrote: »

Will your lights \ indicators still work and be visible ?

No now that you mention it.

I think I'll have to leave it so, don't want to risk getting in trouble.

Thanks

iwillhtfu

A few slightly over thinking this one.

Throw it in the back make sure nothing loose flies out. I wouldn't be to worried about reg plates and I don't think any car have brake lights that lift with the boot lid.

colm_mcm

iwillhtfu wrote: »

A few slightly over thinking this one.

Throw it in the back make sure nothing loose flies out. I wouldn't be to worried about reg plates and I don't think any car have brake lights that lift with the boot lid.

these yokes are around 9ft long to be fair.

EPAndlee

Tie it down and drive on

iwillhtfu

colm_mcm wrote: »

these yokes are around 9ft long to be fair.

At their longest maybe but river play boats are usually short enough.

Isambard

if you are worried about the number plate being visible, you could unscrew it and fix it so it is visible. I wouldn't bother though

markjack98

Just checked and all lights will still be visible actually!

Could I risk M50 or should I go through town?

It's a pretty small kayak in fairness

Odelay

From experience, driving with the boot open sucks exhaust fumes into the car. Just something to be aware of and assess the risks yourself.

Greybottle

markjack98 wrote: »

Just checked and all lights will still be visible actually!

Could I risk M50 or should I go through town?

It's a pretty small kayak in fairness

If it complies then the M50 is better. If its daytime then hanging a hi viz jacket off the back of it is OK too.

Apart from that just make sure its secure.

Less chance of a gurrier taking a look at it on the M50.

jimbis

If some of the previous posts are to go by, And the gards were looking to up their quotas they could make a killing outside ikea at the weekends :pac:

Make sure it's secure, brake and indicator lights are appropriately visible and you'll be grand. High vis on the end of it just to stop some twat walking into it at the traffic lights.

mikeecho

freddieot wrote: »

Will your lights \ indicators still work and be visible ?

Brake and indicators are never on the boot.

colm_mcm

mikeecho wrote: »

Brake and indicators are never on the boot.

TrailerBob

^^^ the insignia has additional lights inside the boot frame visible when the boot is open.



Just take the reasonable steps to make it secure and go on. Unless it hangs out by 4ft you'll be OK

mikeecho

colm_mcm wrote: »

And when you lift the tail gate/boot.. there is another set of brake lights inside

Edit.. beaten to it

colm_mcm

But you said!