1,200 injuries could be prevented
Eight days of spot checks at locations across North West England are planned as part of a new campaign focussed on reducing the number of deaths and injuries linked to the transport of loads. The campaign will see officers from the Health and Safety Executive and Vehicle Operator Services Agency inspecting the loads of vehicles that have been pulled over at random.
1,200 accidents per year
Each year in the UK, around 1,200 people are injured by unsafe loads on vehicles. Accidents are typically caused by loads that have either not been properly secured or that have caused the vehicle that was transporting them to become unstable and overturn or crash. It is not just the vehicle transporting the load that is at risk; other road users can be injured by items falling from overloaded vehicles.
It is not the first time a campaign targeting unsafe loads has been tried; in a similar series of inspections last April, around 80% of vehicles inspecting were transporting loads unsafely. Penalties for drivers or businesses found to have unsafe loads include fines and in serious cases the inspection teams will order an unsafe vehicle off the road.
In addition to the roadside inspections, road haulage firms and transport managers will receive guidance and tips in the post detailing the safe methods of loading and unloading their vehicles. Firms are also being asked to look at other factors including the restraints they are using to secure loads, the routes their vehicles take whilst carrying loads and the training of their drivers.
Accident claims involving unsafe loads
At Camps Solicitors we handle thousands of road traffic accident claims for our clients every year. You might have been involved in an accident caused by an item falling off another vehicle, or an accident caused by a vehicle that was carrying an unsafe load that caused its driver to lose control and crash into your own vehicle, give Camps a call. However you came to be injured, if the accident wasn’t your fault, then you could be entitled to claim compensation from those responsible.
Call 0800 092 8586
Speak to one of our claims advisors about your claim.
