Kent Police‘s Roads Policing Unit stopped a van that was 1,320kg overloaded and had inadequate load security. The driver has been reported for weight and securing the load, and arranged for another vehicle to take over and for the load to be secured correctly.
This is not an isolated incident. In 2019, there were 8 accidents involving insecure loads on vehicles in Kent, resulting in 5 people being seriously injured and 1 person dying. In the past 3 years, there have been 29 accidents caused by insecure loads on vehicles across the UK, killing 5 people and injuring 146.
The worryingly high number of accidents caused by insecure loads highlights the need for companies to ensure their drivers are properly trained in how to secure loads, and for drivers to take their time to do so correctly. A few extra minutes spent ensuring a load is properly secured could save a life.
If you’re a driver, take your time to make sure your load is secure before setting off. If you’re a company, ensure your drivers are properly trained in how to load and secure cargo. Insecurely loaded vehicles are a danger to everyone on the road.
News Credits: Twitter @Kent Police RPU
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