DriveSmartBC

A reader asks about a recent incident where a ladder had fallen off a truck traveling on the highway. The driver following behind the truck took evasive action that resulted in a collision. This question raises many important issues including hazard avoidance, duty at a collision and load securement.

An object of any sort falling off of the vehicle in front of you is definitely a surprise. The actions available to you are usually either to drive over the object or swerve around it. If you have maintained two to four seconds following distance and made sure to keep an open space beside you on multi laned roadway you will have given yourself both time to think and react as well as the room to do it. Always leave yourself an out!

The driver of this truck was indirectly involved in a collision on a highway and had duties that he must fulfill. These duties included stopping or immediately returning to the scene, rendering assistance and providing details in writing concerning himself, his vehicle and insurance to other drivers involved, the police and any witness that demanded it.

Load securement rules in British Columbia have changed in 2005 and those changes include significantly increased fines for those who do not obey. These fines are $173 for most people, but increase to $288 for commercial and business vehicles and $598 for drivers who do not obey an order to remove a vehicle from the highway until the load is properly secured.

Most of us carry loads that are a collection of smaller articles of some sort. These are known as aggregate loads. If the articles are not contained by the sides of the vehicle or tie downs, they must be covered in some manner to prevent them from bouncing, blowing or dropping from the vehicle. A suitable tarp or net would be the answer here.

Larger articles may be secured with chains, ropes, belts or cables. The methods can be complex and the easiest way to learn about them is to pick up a free copy of BC Booklet 2 - Cargo Securement from the nearest weigh scale or downloading it from the Ministry of Transport web site. Similarly, the National Safety Code Standard 10 that the BC load security regulations are based on is also available for download.

References:

Section 68 MVA - Duty of Driver at Collision
Division 35 MVAR - Cargo Securement
BC Booklet 2 - Cargo Security
National Safety Code Standard 10 - Cargo Securement