A tractor driver is set to be prosecuted for towing a low-loader carrying a dumper and excavator which weren’t secured properly, according to An Garda Siochana.

The tractor was stopped by Gardai in Co. Waterford yesterday, Febuary 16, due to no straps or chains being used to secure the load.

Unsecured or improperly secured loads pose a serious safety risk and should always be secured so that they cannot move or fall from the vehicle, according to the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

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Travelling with an unsecured load poses a number of risks for both the driver of the vehicle and other road users, the RSA said.

The RSA insists that all loads must be secured even if the vehicle is only travelling a short distance or at low speeds.

The RSA has said that a load shall not be carried on a vehicle on a public road in such a manner that part of the load is liable to fall on the road.

A load must not drag on the surface of the road, so as to cause damage to the road or to be liable to cause danger, it also advises.

Operators or drivers should employ a load restraint method suitable to the load being carried, according to the RSA.

Load security is not just the sole responsibility of the vehicle driver. Employers, vehicle owners, drivers and loading and unloading staff all have a role to play in ensuring loads are secure, the RSA said.