Delaware — From 2014 to 2017, Delaware has seen an increase of 250% in crashes on our roads attributed to cargo loss or shift. The Delaware State Police, Delaware Department of Transportation, Delaware Office of Highway Safety and AAA-Mid Atlantic have partnered to educate the motoring public on the importance of load securement. This year’s annual “Secure Your Load Day” is recognized on June 6th and is a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the dangers of unsecured loads and road debris on our nation’s highways.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) includes the day on its calendar and the addition of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) approved Secure Your Load language in the manual for all non-commercial drivers nationwide.

“Unsecured loads and road debris crashes are preventable with just a few minutes of time. All items need to be securely fastened to the vehicle,” says Sergeant Richard Bratz, Public Information Director for the Delaware State Police. “If we see you hauling an improperly secured load, you could receive a heavy fine.”

“It’s never safe to use the weight of the load or the placement of the load to haul or transport cargo safely. All items must be safely fastened to the vehicle. Ironically, as I was driving to work this morning and thinking about this statement, I nearly hit a large construction pail that was rolling along in the center of Delaware highway 1,” says Mitch Topal, Public Information Officer and Marketing Specialist for the Office of Highway Safety. “All puns aside, that really drove the message home for me.”

Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan added, “The statistics show that this has become a serious problem in Delaware, and everyone needs to do their part to prevent unnecessary accidents and injuries as a result of unsecured cargo. Taking a few extra minutes to ensure your load is properly secured makes our roads safer for everyone.”

“According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, two in three debris-related crashes result from items falling from a vehicle due to improper maintenance or an unsecured load, says Ken Grant, Manager, Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “As with most road situations, proper planning and precautions can prevent tragedies.”

Here are some recommendations to properly secure your load in six easy steps:

1. Tie down load with rope, netting or straps
2. Tie large objects directly to the vehicle or trailer
3. Cover the entire load with a sturdy tarp or netting
4. Don’t overload the vehicle
5. Always double check load to make sure a load is secure
6. Secure Your Load as if your loved ones driving in the car behind youFor more information, go to www.secureyourload.com.

Presented by the Director of Public Information, Sergeant Richard Bratz

Released: 060418 1431

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