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OLYMPIA — As summer travel season begins, Washington state agencies are renewing calls for drivers to secure their loads and protect others on the road through the Secure Your Load for Safer Roads campaign.
The campaign launched last week in coordination with National Secure Your Load Day on June 6, honoring those whose lives were lost or forever changed by debris falling from vehicles. Now in its fifth year, the campaign is led by the Washington State Department of Ecology in partnership with the Washington State Patrol, Washington State Department of Transportation and Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Unsecured loads were responsible for 337 crashes and 32 injuries last year in Washington. Along with the threats it can pose to drivers, this kind of debris is also a major source of roadside litter.
This year’s campaign continues to focus on raising awareness and preventing accidents caused by unsecured loads. Across the state, 80 hardware stores are sharing best practices and promoting products that support safe hauling. WSP troopers will conduct emphasis patrols across the state during the first three weekends in June, monitoring for unsecured loads and engaging with drivers.
Ecology advises calling 911 if a dangerous unsecured load or something falling from a vehicle are sighted. Fines for failing to secure a load range from $50 to $5,000, with higher penalties for any incidents that result in injury or property damage. Criminal charges may apply in serious cases.
