A festive lesson to remember all year round

A survey of 500 British households, undertaken by Fiat Professional, found a worrying lack of driving knowledge. Some 75 percent of drivers have almost no idea of the rules which apply when transporting large loads such as lengthy Christmas trees. Drivers have been warned to ensure they comply with the Highway Code, however the Highway Code whilst a vital read is in fact guidance (albeit based around legislation), the legislation that Driver’s need to avoid contravening is as follow:

Section 40A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 covers Dangerous vehicle offences:

40A Using vehicle in dangerous condition etc.

A person is guilty of an offence if he uses, or causes or permits another to use, a motor vehicle or trailer on a road when—

(a)the condition of the motor vehicle or trailer, or of its accessories or equipment, or

(b)the purpose for which it is used, or

(c)the number of passengers carried by it, or the manner in which they are carried, or

(d)the weight, position or distribution of its load, or the manner in which it is secured,

is such that the use of the motor vehicle or trailer involves a danger of injury to any person.

A vehicle could arguable be dangerous by;

• Overloading
• Carrying too many passengers
• Too much weight
• An excessive load
• Weight
• Position
• Distribution of a load
• The method of securing any load being carried

In extreme cases the Police could seek to argue that a driver is guilty of dangerous driving.

2A Meaning of dangerous driving.

(1)For the purposes of sections 1 and 2 above a person is to be regarded as driving dangerously if (and, subject to subsection (2) below, only if)—

(a)the way he drives falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver, and

(b)it would be obvious to a competent and careful driver that driving in that way would be dangerous.

(2)A person is also to be regarded as driving dangerously for the purposes of sections 1 and 2 above if it would be obvious to a competent and careful driver that driving the vehicle in its current state would be dangerous.