+
SUNDAY, MAY 31, 1987
AT PRESENT THERE ARE MORE THAN 83 000 LICENSED GOODS VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, CONSISTING OF 66 690 LIGHT VEHICLES, 16 450 MEDIUM GOODS VEHICLES AND ABOUT 200 HEAVY VEHICLES.
THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS PRACTICE AT PRESENT IS THAT OF ALLOWING AND IN SOME CASES ENCOURAGING, PERSONNEL TO BE CARRIED ON OR WITHIN THE LOAD.
+THIS IRRESPONSIBLE PRACTICE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY TO THEM AS THEY COULD BE CRUSHED BY THE LOAD OR THROWN OFF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE RESTRAINT,+ HE SAID.
+A FURTHER UNSATISFACTORY PRACTICE CONCERNS THE CARRIAGE OF LOOSE BULK LOADS OF WASTE OR EXCAVATED MATERIAL. THEY ARE SOMETIMES LOADED ABOVE THE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE, ALLOWING DROPS OR BEING BLOWN AWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. THIS PRESENTS AN OBVIOUS DANGER TO OTHER ROAD USERS.
+ THE PROVISIONAL CODE POINTS OUT THAT SUCH LOADS SHOULD BE PROPERLY CONTAINED WITH COVERS EXTENDING OVER AND DOWN THE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE TO ENSURE SPILLAGE DOES NOT OCCUR.
+OFTEN WHEN LOOSE MATERIAL IS BEING TRANSPORTED, SOME OPERATORS WILL INCREASE THE DEPTH OF THE SIDES BY THE USE OF ODD PIECES OF WOOD IN ORDER TO CARRY MORE MATERIAL.
+THE PROVISIONAL CODE POINTS OUT THAT THIS PRACTICE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AS THE PIECES OF WOOD ARE NOT SECURED TO THE VEHICLE AND CAN BE EASILY DISLODGED, WITH THE CONSEQUENT LOSS OF PART OF THE LOAD, HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT IF THE VEHICLE CAN SAFELY CARRY AN INCREASED LOAD HEIGHT, THEN ANY EXTENSIONS TO THE SIDES MUST BE MADE BY USING ONLY PROPERLY DESIGNED EXTENSION PIECES WHICH CAN BE SECURELY FIXED TO THE VEHICLE.
THE CODE ALSO CITES THAT FOR LONG MATERIAL IT IS ACCEPTED THAT CERTAIN LOADS WILL HAVE TO EXTEND BEYOND THE FRONT OR REAR OF A VEHICLE, BUT OFTEN USING A LARGER VEHICLE WILL ENABLE THE LOAD TO BE LÁID FLAT ON THE CARRYING PLATFORM WITHOUT ANY PART OF THE LOAD PROJECTING FROM THE VEHICLE.
WHERE LOADS SUCH AS REINFORCEMENT RODS OR BAMBOO POLES ARE CARRIED AND DO PROJECT BEYOND THE VEHICLE THEY MUST BE PROPERLY LASHED DOWN SO THAT NO MOVEMENT OF THE LOAD OCCURS. IT IS ALSO NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THE HEADBOARD, IF SUPPORTING THE LOAD, IS STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE LOAD.
/ON TRANSPORTING