LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Police Department Patrol Services Bureau has designated March as Truck Loading Safety Awareness Month, according to a press release. “We’re hoping that by focusing on truck loading safety, truck drivers and other motorists will be reminded
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Police Department Patrol Services Bureau has designated March as Truck Loading Safety Awareness Month, according to a press release.
“We’re hoping that by focusing on truck loading safety, truck drivers and other motorists will be reminded that proper loading of any vehicle is very important to preventing accidents,” said Acting Captain Mark Scribner in the release.
For example, Scribner noted, loads that are not secured or covered properly, such as trucks carrying gravel or rocks, can cause substantial damage. In addition, unsecured or improperly covered loads often lead to spills and/or trash left along the roadways.
“When there’s trash on the roadway, it not only presents a hazardous situation to motorists, but it also looks bad and certainly isn’t good for the environment,” he said. People who use their personal vehicles to transport large items also put the public at risk if these items extend beyond the sides or rear of their vehicles.
Throughout the month, patrol officers will be monitoring vehicular traffic. Those who violate truck loading safety laws and other related laws will be issued citations.
In the Statewide Traffic Code, Section 291C-131, the rules of the road regarding vehicles with loads on highways, along with penalties for violations of this section, is extensively covered.
The size of vehicles allowed on roadways — width, height and length — including loads is defined in Section 291-34 of the Statewide Traffic Code: (a) width — No motor vehicle or other power vehicle having an overall width greater than nine feet, including load, shall be operated or moved upon any public road, street, or highway within the state, except as hereinafter provided.
Regarding height, Section 291-34 states: No motor vehicle or other power vehicle having an overall height greater than 14 feet, including load, shall be operated or moved upon any public road, street, or highway within the state except as hereinafter provided; and provided further that no motor vehicle or other power vehicle shall be operated under or through any bridge or other highway structure if the height of the motor vehicle or other power vehicle exceeds the posted height of the bridge or other highway structure.
The Kaua‘i County Code also addresses the weight, size and load of vehicles traveling on Kaua‘i’s roadways in Article 19, sections 16-19.1, 16-19.2, and 16-19.3.
Projecting loads on vehicles is covered in Section 16-19.1 (a): Whenever the load on any vehicle shall extend more than four feet beyond the rear of the bed or body thereof, there shall be displayed at the end of the load in a position as to be clearly visible at all times from the rear of the vehicle a red flag not less than 12 inches both in length and width, except that between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise, there shall be displayed at the end of the load a red light, visible under normal atmospheric conditions at least 500 feet from the rear of the vehicle.
The ordinance further states: (b) No passenger-type vehicle shall be operated on any highway with any load carried thereon extending beyond the line of the fenders on the left side of the vehicle or extending more than six inches beyond the line of the fenders on the right side thereof.
•To learn more about Hawai‘i’s traffic laws, go to www.capitol.hawaii.gov
