Loads at danger level Shortage 'could
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by Derren Hayes • Hauliers in Yorkshire are overloading their vehicles to danger levels, according to a six-month survey by Trading Standards Officers.
One in six vehicles were overloaded and more than 500 operators are to be prosecuted, the survey says. Some vehicles were nearly 50% overweight. North Yorkshire's chief Trading Standards Officer, Gordon Gresty says: "As well as damage to the roads, seriously overloaded vehicles have changed braking and handling characteristics and pose a greater risk to other road users."
Of the 6,218 vehicles weighed in West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, East Riding, York, North Lincolnshire, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster, 1,069 were found to be overloaded.
More than 240 vehicles were so dangerous that prohibitions were issued against them and 526 operators are to be prosecuted. The worst offenders were in West Yorkshire where of 2,732 vehicles weighed 518 were overloaded (nearly 20%)-135 prohibitions issued and 316 prosecutions are pending.
The council is concerned about overloaded lorries damaging roads and bridges. Mike Moore, director of environmental services says: "The prospect of these bridges coping with a lorry exceeding 40 tonnes doesn't beat thinking about.
"It could lead to really serious problems through actual bridge collapses which in turn could lead to serious injuries or even death and there is a need for hauliers and drivers to adopt a more responsible approach."