Load safety campaign launched

A new campaign aims to encourage fleet managers to ensure vehicle loads are properly secured.

According to the Fleet Safety Forum - a division of road safety charity Brake - every year 4,000 successful prosecutions for unsafe loads are brought against drivers and operators in the UK.

Even more alarmingly, Police investigating crashes in Britain in 2006 recorded overloaded or poorly loaded vehicle trailers as a contributing factor in 15 fatal crashes and 360 crashes in which someone was injured.

In response, the forum has produced a free six-page information booklet in partnership with Modul-System.

Now available to fleet managers, the booklet explains the dangers of unsafe loads, and the legal responsibilities of companies to ensure loads are safely secured.

It includes an overview of a variety of restraining equipment devices, best practice case studies and an advice sheet for drivers on safe loading.

On the launch of the booklet, Brake’s fleet safety forum officer, Chris Frost, said that all fleet managers need to be aware of the dangers and carry out risk assessments for new vehicles, carefully choose load restraining equipment and train their drivers.

Free copies are available by emailing name, job title, company name, telephone number and address to admin@brake.org.uk or by calling 01484 559909.