Bolesławiec traffic police inspected a delivery vehicle whose driver violated Article 61 of the Road Traffic Act. Officers: – The transported cargo was not properly placed; moreover, it was not marked and extended more than 2 metres beyond the vehicle.
The outcome? The driver transporting rods received a PLN 300 fine.
Police:
Police officers may impose a fine of up to PLN 3,000 on a driver who places cargo on a vehicle in breach of the regulations. Let us remember that improper transportation of cargo may contribute to an accident.
What are the rules for transporting cargo safely?
- Cargo must not cause the vehicle’s permitted gross weight or permitted payload to be exceeded.
- Cargo must be placed on the vehicle so that it:
- does not cause the permitted axle loads of the vehicle on the road to be exceeded;
- does not compromise the vehicle’s stability;
- does not make it difficult to steer the vehicle;
- does not restrict visibility of the road or obscure lights, signalling devices, registration plates or other plates or signs with which the vehicle is equipped.
- Cargo placed on a vehicle should be secured against shifting or causing excessive noise. It must not have a repulsive appearance or emit a repulsive odour.
Furthermore:
- Devices used to secure cargo should be protected against loosening, hanging freely or falling during travel.
- Bulk cargo may be placed only in a sealed cargo box, additionally secured with suitable covers preventing the cargo from spilling onto the road. Cargo extending beyond the vehicle’s outline may be placed on it only subject to the following conditions:
- Cargo extending beyond the vehicle’s lateral outline may be placed only so that the total width of the vehicle with the cargo does not exceed 2.55 m, and, where the vehicle is 2.55 m wide, does not exceed 3 m, provided that the cargo is placed so that it does not extend more than 23 cm on one side;
- Cargo must not extend more than 2 m beyond the rear plane of the outline of the vehicle or vehicle combination; in the case of a pole trailer, this distance is measured from the trailer axle;
- Cargo must not extend more than 0.5 m beyond the front plane of the vehicle’s outline or more than 1.5 m from the driver’s seat. When transporting long timber, cargo may extend behind a pole trailer by no more than 5 m.
- Cargo extending beyond the front or lateral planes of the vehicle’s outline should be marked. This also applies to cargo extending more than 0.5 m beyond the rear plane of the vehicle’s outline.