Overloaded vehicles are prevalent throughout the third world but the Asian countries do seem to push the overloading a little further than most. Most of the trucks are piled high with both cargo and people. Most of the local people in these situations do it as there is just no other option available to them and there’s just no other way for these people to get around.
Overloading a vehicle, whether a goods vehicle, Passenger Service Vehicle (PSV), or car, is illegal and carries severe penalties for drivers and operators. The responsibility for ensuring that a vehicle is not overloaded rests with both the driver and the vehicle operator.
Furthermore, anyone else who causes or permits overloading is also committing an offence and the drivers may also face a charge of dangerous driving, with a maximum penalty of two years in prison. If overloading results in someone being killed, the driver and operator may face imprisonment for manslaughter or death by dangerous driving. Additionally, no motor vehicle or trailer must be used for any purpose for which it is unsuited as to cause or be likely to cause danger or nuisance to any person. Overloading a vehicle isn’t difficult, and it’s not always the case that drivers are aware of the fact that their vehicles are as such.
However, it is an offence under the Road Traffic Act and carries a maximum penalty which could be as a result of overloading in connection with an axle (or axles), the gross vehicle weight or the train weight of the vehicle. What is need to be done is that the traffic controllers should have a ‘safety culture’ in place that ensures that the drivers understand weight legislation and a simple guide to load capacity and weight distribution should be available in every vehicle.
The drivers should immediately report concerns that a vehicle is illegally overloaded to their manager, who should investigate all concerns straightaway to prevent overloading.
Overloading convictions may be taken into account by the Traffic Commissioner who may decide to take action against the license holder. It should be remembered that when applying for an operator licence the authorities must be satisfied that the applicant has made acceptable arrangements to avoid overloading.
Problems can occur when loading at customers premises where (through human error) the weight of the consignment note is incorrect. Equally so, it may be the case that a client (or agent) merely wants the whole consignment to be loaded and doesn’t consider the weight implications that may follow. Whatever the case, a policy of vigilance must be foremost at all times.
Overloading vehicles do not only increase the pressure on the suspension and other vehicle components but makes it much more difficult to steer the vehicle safely in challenging road conditions. The overloaded vehicle will not only put the driver at risk, but also passengers and other road users.
Furthermore, overloaded vehicles can cause the tyres to overheat and wear rapidly which increases the chance of premature, dangerous and expensive failure or blow-outs or in other case, brakes have to work harder because the vehicle is heavier due to overloading. Brakes overheat and lose their effectiveness to stop the car.
Therefore, by overloading the vehicle, one will incur higher maintenance costs to the vehicle such as tyres, brakes, shock absorbers and higher fuel consumption. With the amount of deaths happening due to road accidents, it is only a matter of time before the authorities do something there too.
ZOHRA TAIYEB
Karachi