6.2 Instructions in Writing: Emergency Action Information (ADR 5.4.3)
Key Takeaways
Instructions in Writing (ADR 5.4.3) constitute a legally binding, 4-page emergency protocol that must be provided by the carrier and carried in the vehicle cab.
The document adheres strictly to the standardized UNECE four-page model and must correspond to the prescribed four-page model in form and contents; separate supplemental information must not replace it.
The carrier is legally obligated to supply the document in language(s) that each vehicle crew member can read and comprehend prior to departure.
The vehicle crew must keep the Instructions in Writing readily accessible inside the cab and are required to study them thoroughly before beginning the journey.
The four-page model includes emergency actions, hazard-label and special-mark guidance, and the equipment list; it is read alongside knowledge of the actual load.
Instructions in Writing: Emergency Action Information (ADR 5.4.3)
Mandatory Operational Standard: Under ADR 5.4.3, the carrier must provide the vehicle crew with standardized Instructions in Writing (Consignes Écrites) before the start of the journey. This four-page emergency protocol establishes immediate life-saving countermeasures and must be kept readily accessible inside the driver's cab at all times.
Purpose and Binding Legal Status of Instructions in Writing
During a road transport incident involving dangerous goods, the initial actions taken by the vehicle crew in the opening minutes determine whether an emergency is contained or escalates into a catastrophic disaster. To provide unambiguous, immediate operational guidance, ADR 5.4.3 establishes the Instructions in Writing.
Historically, prior to the ADR 2009 revision, consignors issued individualized, product-specific emergency instruction cards (commonly known as "Tremcards"). In multi-drop or mixed-consignment distribution, drivers frequently accumulated dozens of disparate cards in the cab. In an emergency involving darkness, smoke, or toxic fumes, identifying the correct card was nearly impossible, causing dangerous confusion and response delays.
To eliminate this vulnerability, UNECE introduced a single, standardized four-page emergency response document that applies universally to all classes of dangerous goods:
- Rigid Standardization: The text, structure, symbols, and layout of the four pages are strictly mandated by UNECE. Consignors, carriers, and third parties are strictly prohibited from altering, condensing, modifying, or appending commercial text to the document.
- Universal Scope: The document covers general emergency response protocols and outlines specific hazards and countermeasures for every dangerous goods class from Class 1 through Class 9.
- Uniformity Across Europe: Whether a transport unit is operating in Germany, Spain, Sweden, or Poland, the four-page document features identical visual pictograms, layout structure, and procedural steps.
Carrier and Vehicle Crew Statutory Obligations
ADR Chapter 5.4.3 defines explicit, non-delegable responsibilities for both transport operators and vehicle crew members:
Carrier Obligations (ADR 5.4.3.2)
- Language Comprehension: The carrier must provide the Instructions in Writing in language(s) that each member of the vehicle crew can read and comprehend. For example, if a transport operator employs a two-person driving crew where one driver reads Polish and the other reads French, copies in both Polish and French must be provided.
- Verification of Understanding: The carrier must ensure that the vehicle crew members understand the instructions and are capable of carrying them out properly in an emergency.
- Provision of Required Equipment: The carrier must equip the transport unit with all mandatory personal and vehicle safety equipment listed on Page 4 of the instructions.
Vehicle Crew Obligations (ADR 5.4.3.1 & 5.4.3.3)
- Pre-Journey Consultation: The driver and crew members must inform themselves of the dangerous goods loaded on board and consult the Instructions in Writing before setting off. The document is not intended to be read for the first time during an emergency!
- Cab Accessibility: The document must be kept readily accessible within the driver's cab—kept readily accessible in the cab (such as in a dedicated door pocket or dashboard compartment). Storing the instructions inside luggage, cargo holds, or locked toolboxes is a serious violation.
- Readiness for Emergency Services: In the event of an incident, the driver must be prepared to hand over the Instructions in Writing and the Dangerous Goods Transport Document to arriving emergency services personnel.
Detailed Page-by-Page Structure and Emergency Protocols
The four-page UNECE model is organized into three sequential functional components:
| Page | Document Section | Operational Content and Tactical Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Page 1 | General Emergency Actions | Immediate initial safety steps: stopping engine, isolating battery, eliminating ignition sources, donning high-visibility vest, deploying warning signs, alerting emergency services (112), and keeping documents accessible. |
| Pages 2 & 3 | Class-Specific Hazard and Action Table | Tabular matrix mapping ADR hazard label diamonds to specific physical/chemical hazards and targeted countermeasures (fire, spillage, toxic vapours, environmental protection). |
| Page 4 | Personal and Vehicle Protective Equipment | Mandatory itemized list of general safety gear, personal protective equipment (PPE), and special response tools required on board the transport unit under ADR 8.1.5. |
Page 1: General Emergency Actions
Page 1 details actions to consider where safe and practicable; the driver must not postpone escape or an emergency call to finish a rigid sequence upon experiencing an accident or incident:
- Immobilize and Secure: Apply the vehicle braking system, shut down the engine, and disconnect the electrical circuits using the battery master switch if the vehicle is fitted with one.
- Eliminate Ignition Sources: Extinguish any naked flames. Smoking, vaping, or using electronic cigarettes is strictly forbidden in the vicinity of the vehicle. Do not operate non-certified electrical equipment, flashlights, or cellular phones near potential vapour clouds.
- Personal Visibility and Traffic Warning: Put on the reflective high-visibility warning vest before exiting the vehicle. Position the self-standing warning signs (warning triangles or amber flashing lamps) along the carriageway to warn approaching traffic.
- Emergency Services Alert (112): Contact local police and fire services immediately. Communicate precise details: exact highway or geographic location, UN numbers, Proper Shipping Names, hazard classes, approximate quantities, containment integrity (leaks or fires), and whether injuries are present.
- Protect Documents: Keep the transport document and Instructions in Writing readily available to hand over to the incident commander upon emergency services' arrival.
- Self-Preservation and Evacuation: Move away from the danger area. Never walk into, touch, or handle spilled substances. Remain upwind of all vapour plumes, smoke, dusts, and fumes.
Pages 2 & 3: Table of Class-Specific Hazards and Countermeasures
Pages 2 and 3 present a structured table outlining specific dangers and required actions for each hazard class:
- Class 1 (Explosives): Risk of blast waves, severe thermal burns, and flying fragments. The crew must take immediate cover behind natural terrain or structures; never attempt to fight cargo fires involving Class 1.
- Class 2 (Gases): Hazards include high-pressure rupture, extreme flammability, asphyxiation, toxic inhalation, or cryogenic frostbite. The crew must remain strictly upwind and avoid low-lying depressions, gullies, or basements where heavy gases collect.
- Classes 3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 (Flammable Liquids, Solids, Reactives): Acute fire and explosion risks. Class 4.3 substances emit flammable gases upon contact with moisture—never use water on Class 4.3 spillages. Prevent runoff from contaminating waterways.
- Classes 5.1 & 5.2 (Oxidizers and Organic Peroxides): Intensify combustion and undergo rapid thermal decomposition. Avoid contact with combustible materials (grease, paper, wood); monitor temperature control requirements for organic peroxides.
- Class 6.1 & 6.2 (Toxic and Infectious): Lethal through inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption. Use the specified escape mask only within its limits to escape; never enter a toxic or oxygen-deficient area for rescue or cleanup, and keep clear of biological contamination.
- Class 7 (Radioactive): Radiation exposure and contamination risks. Maintain maximum physical distance, minimize exposure duration, and avoid handling damaged radioactive packagings.
- Class 8 (Corrosive): Can cause burns and attack metals; some substances also react dangerously with water or other materials. Use the actual label and instructions; generic gloves and goggles do not permit spill-zone entry.
- Class 9 (Miscellaneous): Includes lithium battery fire risk (thermal runaway releasing toxic gases) and environmental pollutants. Use drain protection only when safe and practicable, without exposure.
Page 4: Equipment for Personal and General Protection (ADR 8.1.5)
Page 4 itemizes the required safety equipment that must be maintained in serviceable condition on board:
- General Vehicle Equipment: One wheel chock suitable for the vehicle's gross mass; two self-standing warning signs (reflective triangles or flashing amber lights); eye wash liquid containing clean water.
- Personal Protective Equipment (for each crew member): EN ISO 20471 high-visibility vest; suitable eye protection (chemical splash goggles); protective chemical-resistant gloves; a portable lighting apparatus (non-sparking, intrinsically safe torch).
- Specialized Spill Equipment (for Solids and Liquids of Classes 3, 4.1, 4.3, 8, and 9): An emergency shovel; a drain seal / gully cover; a chemical-resistant collecting container (plastic bucket).
- Respiratory Protection (for Danger Labels 2.3 and 6.1): An emergency escape mask for each crew member (combination filter mask, e.g., A1B1E1K1-P1).
The overriding condition: safe and practicable
The model’s emergency actions are subject to safety and practicality. Do not return to a burning cab for paperwork, walk into traffic to place signs, enter a vapour cloud with an escape mask or attempt cargo firefighting. Give responders the available information from a safe position, then follow their directions. The equipment list supports limited safe actions; it does not turn the vehicle crew into a spill-response team. The model also includes instructions to remove contaminated clothing/protective equipment and dispose of it safely.
Source check: 17 October 2026 — ADR 2025, English text published by the Slovak Ministry of Transport, 5.4.3.
Which party is legally responsible under ADR 5.4.3.2 for providing the vehicle crew with the Instructions in Writing in language(s) they can read and understand?
The consignor who prepared the chemical packages
The carrier operating the transport unit
The emergency fire and rescue services
The manufacturer of the chemical substances
Which statement accurately reflects the legal status and format of the Instructions in Writing under ADR Chapter 5.4.3?
Carriers must draft customized emergency procedures specific to each individual brand name of chemical carried
Consignors must issue distinct single-page Tremcards for every separate UN number on the vehicle
It must correspond in form and contents to the prescribed UNECE four-page model; supplemental information does not replace it
It is an optional advisory document that can be substituted by the vehicle manufacturer's operating handbook
Under Page 4 of the Instructions in Writing and ADR 8.1.5, which item of equipment is specifically required for transport units carrying toxic gases (Class 2.3) or toxic substances (Class 6.1)?
A portable spark-proof chainsaw
An aluminium extension ladder
A dry chemical deluge fire extinguisher
An emergency escape mask for each member of the vehicle crew
Where safe and practicable, which actions appear in the ADR Instructions in Writing after an incident?
Stop the engine, isolate the battery with the master switch if equipped, avoid ignition sources, and put on the high-visibility vest
Immediately open all cargo compartment doors to ventilate leaking gases or vapours into the atmosphere
Begin rolling leaking drums into road drainage gullies to clear the carriageway for other motorists
Attempt to extinguish any cargo fire inside the load compartment using the cab fire extinguisher
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.