If you encounter a radioactive placard on a shipment but cannot verify its legitimacy, what should you do?

• A. Remove the placard and proceed with normal route.
• B. Continue after verifying the placard yourself at the scene.
• C. Ignore it if you are in a hurry.
• D. Do not transport; contact the shipper or authorities to verify and comply with regulations.

Answer: (D)

When you encounter a radioactive placard but you can’t verify that it’s legitimate, you must not move the shipment. The safe and compliant course is to stop and contact the shipper or the appropriate authorities to verify the labeling and obtain the correct handling instructions. This protects you, other road users, and the public, and it aligns with hazmat rules that require accurate placarding, proper shipping papers, and approved routing. If there’s any doubt, rely on the shipper and authorities rather than proceeding. If there’s an immediate hazard, use any emergency contact numbers provided on the placard or shipping papers and follow emergency response guidance. Do not remove the placard, do not transport the load, and do not attempt to verify it yourself on scene. The priority is to verify and ensure proper compliance before movement.