Unsecured loads is considered a serious road safety issue and it’s one the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office is speaking frankly about. Since 2010, unsecured loads have caused 51,000 crashes that have resulted in 10,000 injuries and 440 known fatalities nationwide. To illustrate the seriousness of the issue, the Sweetwater Sheriff’s Office referred to an incident in which a Washington woman was nearly decapitated when a piece of particle board flew out of the back of a utility trailer and went through her windshield. While laws can vary by state, the recommendations made include securing loads down with rope, netting, or straps; securing large objects directly to the vehicle or trailer; covering loads with a tarp or netting and being sure to never overload the vehicle or trailer. “Unsecured loads are dangerous,” shares Sheriff Mike Lowell, “and we encourage drivers everywhere to take the steps necessary to keep things safe.”
