A Toyota Corolla driver has been issued a $469 fine and three demerit points for transporting a mattress precariously held down by two elastic straps on the roof of his car.
Police have issued a reminder to motorists about the dangers of unsafe loads after stopping a Toyota Corolla driver who was attempting to transport a mattress on the roof of his car.
The precariously-positioned mattress – the weight of which overpowered the strength of two elastic straps linked together in the middle – earned the driver a $469 fine and three demerit points.
The cost to rent a ute, van, or trailer is for a few hours is less than $100.
Indeed, for $469 the driver could probably have bought a new mattress.
The $469 fine is the same ticket issued to truck drivers who don’t secure their loads properly, and to drivers who overfill trailers or fail to properly tie-down articles, tools, junk, and other equipment that could injure someone in a following car.
Although the fine may seem heavy-handed, years ago a police motorcyclist was killed on the M1 motorway after a piece of timber fell from the truck he was following.
Serious injuries caused by unsecured loads are also common, say police.
According to a post on the NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Facebook page: “The driver of this Toyota Corolla in Wollongong took a risk by attempting to move this mattress on the roof of his car, relying upon two ‘octopus’ (occy) straps to keep it secured.
“Even with the driver travelling at a low speed of 30km/h in the 60km/h zone (due to the instability of the load), the mattress was witnessed flapping about and sliding backwards.
“The vehicle was intercepted and the load inspected. The mattress was only secured to the vehicle with two ‘occy’ straps linked together in the middle, with each end secured to the head rest poles of the driver and passenger seats.
“The driver was directed to remove the load and make alternative arrangements.
“This short-cut taken by the driver resulted in him being issued a penalty notice for driving a vehicle with an unsecured load.”
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