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A video that appeared on social media of a dangerous incident involving falling straw bales prompted a warning from the local Gardaí about the importance of securing loads on the road.
The incident occurred on the border between Kilkenny and Tipperary counties last night (Saturday, September 19) and features dashcam footage of a driver riding behind a tractor pulling a trailer of straw bales.
However, as noted by members of Co. Kilkenny-based An Garda Síochána, the load was only secured with a single strap.
As the tractor moves forward, some of the bales are released just as the unsuspecting driver encounters another tractor coming from the opposite direction, followed by two cars.
When the driver turns slightly, the bullets land on the side of the road before rolling down the road. The tractor continues on, oblivious to the lost loads.
When posting the video on social media, the local Gardaí issued a warning, stating:
“The following video shows the importance of using straps to hold loads. As you can see, only one strap has been used here over long distances and the driver is traveling too fast for the road surface.
“This incident occurred in the North Kilkenny / Tipperary border area on Saturday night.
“This is a busy time for farms and other businesses; make sure all loads are properly secured. ”
Securing loads
Traveling with an unsecured cargo poses a number of risks to both the vehicle driver and other road users, the Highway Safety Authority (RSA) said.
The RSA insists that all loads must be secured even if the vehicle is only traveling a short distance or at low speeds.
- Loss of control of the vehicle;
- Objects to fall on people or hit them;
- Road obstruction or collision where a driver is required to swerve to avoid falling objects;
- Failure to secure cargoes properly can also result in financial losses due to damaged property and vehicles, lost work time, cleaning costs, and legal costs.
- The RSA has said that you should not transport a load in a vehicle on a public road in such a way that some of the load could fall on the road.
A load should not be dragged on the road surface, so that it causes damage to the road or may cause danger, it also warns.
Operators or drivers must employ a load restraint method appropriate to the load being transported, in accordance with the RSA.
Cargo security is not the sole responsibility of the vehicle driver. Employers, vehicle owners, drivers, and loading and unloading personnel all have a role to play in ensuring loads are safe, RSA said.
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