FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2018
MDTA POLICE INTENSIFYING
UNSECURED LOAD ENFORCEMENT
#secureyourload
BALTIMORE, Md. – Today, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Police are participating with other law-enforcement agencies across the country in the “Secure Your Load” safety campaign. The MDTA Police will increase its patrols that are on the lookout for vehicles with unsafe and unsecured loads. These high-visibility enforcement initiatives also will educate the public on the importance of tying down cargo properly so that it does not become a roadway hazard.
According to figures from a Government Accountability Office report, 440 deaths, 10,000 injuries and 51,000 incidents are documented each year due to vehicles traveling on highways with unsecured loads.
The MDTA Police encourage motorists to always secure their loads in vehicles and trailers. Items that can shift, slide or fall onto the roadway due to being improperly tied down cause a dangerous roadway obstacle, which can lead to vehicle crashes. Furthermore, transporting an unsecured load on a Maryland roadway is a citable offense and a $90 fine.
The MDTA Police ask you to follow the following guidelines:
- Tie it down with ropes or straps.
- Tie large objects directly to your vehicle or trailer.
- Consider covering the entire load with a sturdy tarp or netting.
- Always double-check to make sure the load is secure.
The MDTA Police support the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Highway Safety Office’s “Toward Zero Deaths” campaign – a partnership to save lives and prevent injuries on Maryland roadways. For more information, visit towardzerodeathsmd.com
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The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Police is a nationally accredited law-enforcement agency. MDTA Police Officers provide safety, security and service to Maryland’s citizens and visitors as they use transportation facilities across the State. Visit our website at mdta.maryland.gov and click on MDTA Police. Follow us on Twitter, find us on Facebook at /TheMDTA and find us on Instagram TheMDTA.