Gardaí in Co. Wexford have conducted a stop on a tractor that was towing a trailer carrying a unsecured track machine.
Yesterday (Sunday, September 8), the roads policing unit (RPU) in Gorey were on patrol when they stopped the New Holland tractor.
The load the tractor was towing was a track machine on a trailer, which gardaí stated was “completely unsecured”.
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).
Travelling with an unsecured load poses a number of risks for both the driver of the vehicle and other road users, the RSA said.
Unsecured or inadequately secured loads can shift when a vehicle is in motion and may cause:
- Loss of control of the vehicle;
- Objects to fall on or hit people;
- Road obstruction or a collision, where a driver is required to swerve to avoid fallen items;
- Failure to secure loads properly may also result in financial losses due to damaged goods and vehicles, lost working time, clean-up costs and legal costs.
The RSA insists that all loads must be secured even if the vehicle is only travelling a short distance or at low speeds.
Every load carried by a vehicle in a public place shall be of such a weight and size and so distributed, packed, adjusted and attached to the vehicle that, so far as can reasonably be foreseen, no danger is liable to be caused and that there is no interference with the stability of vehicle.
In the case of mechanically propelled vehicles and trailers, no load carried shall exceed a reasonable weight, having regard to the engine capacity, brakes, tyres and general construction of the vehicle.
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, or drags on the surface of the road, so as to cause damage to the road or to be liable to cause danger.
The RSA have stated it is an offence to carry a load on a vehicle which is overloaded.
The authority has been advised by an Garda Síochána that in practice, the driver of an overweight vehicle will receive penalty points and a fixed charge, while the owner of the vehicle will receive a summons to court for the offence.
On conviction, the courts can then impose on the owner of the vehicle a class C fine up to €2,500, a prison sentence or both.
Where convicted, the vehicle owner may also have further penalties payable to the appropriate local authority.