Secure your load, keep it off the road

 

Every weekend palm fronds and other rubbish end up on our roads when people don’t secure their loaded trailers or utility trays properly before heading to the tip. This litter is not just unattractive, it’s also dangerous. In the last five years, objects falling from vehicles have caused an estimated 54 crashes in the Northern Territory alone.

Cleaning up the roadsides is expensive. It costs the community hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to clean up after careless drivers who have failed to secure their load. It is an offence to drive a vehicle with a load that is not adequately secured (Northern Territory Traffic Regulations—Regulation 24 Securing of Loads). You can be fined, or even held liable if your litter causes a crash.

 

Prevent your rubbish and garden waste from becoming a hazard on the road. Secure your load before heading to the tip by following these simple steps: Make sure your tarp is big enough to cover the load. Don’t cover lights or numberplates. Limit the overhang from your load. Don’t overload the vehicle—make two trips to the tip if necessary. Tie it down securely. Remove or secure loose items that could blow away or bounce out. View image gallery for examples of ways to secure you load.

More information on how to secure your load is available in the Load Restraint Guide at www.ntc.gov.au or at your nearest Motor Vehicle Registry.

Report roadside litter by visiting the website www.roadreport.nt.gov.au.