The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is teaming up with Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to remind Oklahomans this week to secure your load.
June 6th is National Secure Your Load Day, an effort put into place by Robin Abel, a Washington resident whose daughter was nearly killed by an unsecured load in 2004.
Flying and fallen debris can cause property damage, traffic crashes, and even fatalities. Nationally, 895 deaths, 17,203 injuries, and 98,502 property damage crashes occurred due to road debris in 2022. In 2023, there were 567 warnings issued for failure to secure load and 135 citations issued in Oklahoma.
It is the responsibility of all drivers to be thorough in securing their loads to help ensure the safety of citizens and visitors traveling on Oklahoma roads.
Here are some tips from the OHP Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division for securing your load:
- Secure your load for sudden movement on all three axes (up & down, side to side, and lengthwise).
- Only use load securement devices in good condition. Chains should not have cracked, stretched or nicked links. Webbing should not have splices, cuts or holes.
- Follow working load limits on securement devices, and when in doubt, always use extra securement devices.
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