New law centres on insecure loads

Press, 1 February 1986, Page 3

New law centres on insecure loads

PA Wellington A new law making owners and drivers of heavy vehicles liable for accidents caused by insecure loads comes into effect today. The Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble, said yesterday that the law required all heavy vehicles to secure loads in accordance with a new code of practice, developed in consultation with the road transport industry. . The code detailed all methods of securing loads and types of equipment required. The Ministry of Transoort had written to more

than 50,000 heavy motor vehicle firms outlining the requirements of the new law. “Every year New Zealanders have been, killed or maimed as a result of insecure loads falling off heavy vehicles,” Mr Prebble said. “This new law will save lives. The legislation introduces strict liability for operators and drivers of heavy vehicles. • This means that If loads fail from heavy vehicles or are found to be insecure the operators will be convicted unless they. can prow? they took reasonabiecare to ensure the

loads were properly loaded. “In general, this will mean proving that they complied with the code of practice.” Mr Prebble said traffic officers would have the power to stop any vehicle they suspected had an insecure load and could, if necessary, order a truck off the road. Penalties had been strengthened and in extreme cases drivers could be disqualified. The , new measure brought New Zealand’s laws in line with requirements in a numrfr of overseas countries Mr Prebble said.