Editing Convoy (section)

==Road convoys==
[[File:Convoy from Baghdad to Kuwait DVIDS310958.jpg|thumb|A convoy of [[Stryker]]s traveling between [[Iraq]] and [[Kuwait]] during the [[Iraq War]] in 2010]]

===Humanitarian aid convoys===
The word "convoy" is also associated with groups of road vehicles being driven, mostly by volunteers, to deliver [[humanitarian aid]], supplies, and—a stated objective in some cases—"solidarity".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aidconvoy.net/links.htm|title=Aid Convoy (charitable organisation) information on partners|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070428163748/http://www.aidconvoy.net/links.htm|archive-date=2007-04-28}}</ref>

In the 1990s these convoys became common traveling from [[Western Europe]] to countries of the former [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]], in particular [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]] and [[Kosovo]], to deal with the aftermath of the wars there. They also travel to countries where standards of care in institutions such as orphanages are considered low by Western European standards, such as [[Romania]]; and where other disasters have led to problems, such as around the [[Chernobyl disaster]] in [[Belarus]] and [[Ukraine]].

The convoys are made possible partly by the relatively small geographic distances between the stable and affluent countries of Western Europe, and the areas of need in [[Eastern Europe]] and, in a few cases, [[North Africa]] and even [[Iraq]]. They are often justified because although less directly cost-effective than mass freight transport, they emphasise the support of large numbers of small groups, and are quite distinct from multinational organisations such as [[United Nations]] humanitarian efforts.

===Truckers' convoys===
[[File:Convoy of trucks in Afghanistan.jpg|thumb|A convoy of civilian trucks waiting for [[security forces]] to secure a stretch of road in [[Afghanistan]]]]
Truckers' convoys consisting of [[semi-trailer truck]]s and/or [[tank truck|petrol tankers]] are more similar to a [[Caravan (travellers)|caravan]] than a military convoy.

Truckers' convoys were created as a byproduct of the U.S.' [[National Maximum Speed Law|national 55&nbsp;mph speed limit]] and 18-wheelers becoming the prime targets of [[speed trap]]s. Most truckers had difficult schedules to keep and as a result had to maintain a speed above the posted speed limit to reach their destinations on time. Convoys were started so that multiple trucks could run together at a high speed with the rationale being that if they passed a speed trap the police would only be able to pull over one of the trucks in the convoy. When driving on a highway, convoys are also useful to conserve fuel by [[Drafting (aerodynamics)|drafting]].

The film [[Convoy (1978 film)|''Convoy'']], inspired by a 1975 [[Convoy (song)|song of the same name]], explores the camaraderie between [[truck driver]]s, where the culture of the [[CB radio]] encourages truck drivers to travel in convoys.

Truck convoys are sometimes organized for [[fundraising]], [[Charity (practice)|charity]], or promotional purposes. They can also be used as a form of [[protest]], such as the [[Canada convoy protest]] in 2022.

===Special convoy rights===
[[File:marschbung.jpg|thumb|3. Einsatzeinheit of [[German Red Cross]] Freiburg Land preparing for a march under special convoy rights]]
The Highway Code of several European countries (Norway, Italy, Greece, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, possibly more) includes special rights for marked convoys. They have to be treated like a single vehicle. If the first vehicle has passed an intersection, all others may do so without interruption. If other road users overtake the convoy, they are not allowed to split into the queue. Clear and uniform marking has been required in court decisions for these rights to apply. Operating such convoy usually needs special permission, but there are exemptions for emergency and catastrophe intervention. Common practice is, to operate with the same style of marking as NATO convoys: [[STANAG]] 2154 marking plus country-specific augmentation listed in Annex B to the STANAG.<ref>Annex B to STANAG 2154, "Differences in National Marking of Columns and Legal Rights" can be found on pp. 161 ff. of [http://safety.korea.army.mil/Toolbox/Resources/Publications/fm55_30.pdf FM 55-30] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504115026/http://safety.korea.army.mil/Toolbox/Resources/Publications/fm55_30.pdf |date=2015-05-04 }} Linking to STANAG 2154 directly would be preferable. Anybody, who finds it in the public part of the Internet, is welcome to improve this link.</ref><ref>Videos showing [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Oo2xsZVHGQ a convoy departure to the Elbe flood in Germany 2013] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jkDgXu3uNM the return from EU exercise FloodEx 2009 in the Netherlands] illustrate this kind of operation practically. </ref>

During the [[Cold War]] with its high number of military exercises, the military was the main user of convoy rights. Today, catastrophes like large-scale flooding might bring a high number of flagged convoys to the roads. Large-scale evacuations for the disarming of World War II bombs are another common reason for [[non-governmental organization]] (NGO) unit movements under convoy rights.

===Storm convoys===
In Norway, "convoy driving" ({{langx|no|kolonnekjøring}}) is used during winter in case weather is too bad for vehicles to pass on their own. Convoy driving is initiated when the strong wind quickly fills the road with snow behind snowplows, particularly on mountain passes.<ref>[http://www.vegvesen.no/om+statens+vegvesen/presse/Pressemeldingsarkiv/Vegdirektoratet/kolonnekj%C3%B8ring-slipp-lang-ventetid-sjekk-vegmeldingene-se-video Kolonnekjøring] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208014509/http://www.vegvesen.no/om+statens+vegvesen/presse/Pressemeldingsarkiv/Vegdirektoratet/kolonnekj%C3%B8ring-slipp-lang-ventetid-sjekk-vegmeldingene-se-video |date=2016-02-08 }}, Statens Vegvesen (in Norwegian), published 19 March 2013, accessed 7 November 2015.</ref> Only a limited number of vehicles are allowed for each convoy and convoy leader is obliged to decline vehicles not fit for the drive.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kolonnekjøring er vinterens utfordring|url=https://www.naf.no/tips-og-rad/bilferie-og-reise/reisetips/kolonnekjoring/|publisher=NAF|access-date=7 November 2015|archive-date=8 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208015421/https://www.naf.no/tips-og-rad/bilferie-og-reise/reisetips/kolonnekjoring/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Storm convoys are prone to [[multiple-vehicle collision]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Kollisjon under kolonnekjøring|url=http://www.nrk.no/telemark/kjedekollisjon-under-kolonnekjoring-1.4570411|access-date=7 November 2015|publisher=NRK|date=19 January 2008}}</ref> Convoy driving is used through [[Hardangervidda]] pass on [[Norwegian National Road 7|road 7]] during blizzards.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vegvesenet går for billig veiløsningen på Hardangervidda|url=http://www.dn.no/nyheter/politikkSamfunn/2015/10/27/1532/vegvesenet-gr-for-billig-veilsningen-p-hardangervidda|access-date=7 November 2015|publisher=Dagens Næringsliv|date=27 October 2015}}</ref> Convoy is sometimes used on road E134 at the highest and most exposed sections during bad weather.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kolonnekjøring mellom Hovden og Haukeli|url=http://www.fvn.no/lokalt/setesdal/Kolonnekjoring-mellom-Hovden-og-Haukeli-2768248.html|access-date=7 November 2015|publisher=Fædrelandsvennen|date=26 February 2015|archive-date=8 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208021153/http://www.fvn.no/lokalt/setesdal/Kolonnekjoring-mellom-Hovden-og-Haukeli-2768248.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> On [[European route E6]] through [[Saltfjellet]] pass convoy driving is often used when wind speed is over 15–20&nbsp;m/s ([[Beaufort scale|fresh or strong gale]]) in winter conditions. During the winter of 1990 there was convoy driving for almost 500 hours at Saltfjellet<ref>{{cite book|last1=Statens vegvesen Nordland|title=Ferdsel under Polarsirkelen|date=2000|publisher=Statens vegvesen|isbn=978-8299373814}}<!--|access-date=7 November 2015--></ref>