Dashcam shows how not to secure a load on your ute

Who needs to be able to see out of their windows, anyway?

An image shared by Dash Cam Owners Australia – naturally, taken with someone’s dashcam – shows a Mitsubishi Triton driver who has chosen an ill-advised way to carry what appear to be carpets.

At least one of these hasn’t been properly secured, which has led to the front driver’s side window being almost completely obscured.

Given there’s a canopy on the back and this is highly unlikely to have a digital rear-view mirror, the driver’s only view out the back is through the passenger-side exterior mirror… unless that’s blocked too!

The Australian model Road Rules 2014, regulation 292, covering the topic of “Insecure or overhanging load” outlines the following:

A driver must not drive or tow a vehicle if the vehicle is carrying a load that:

• (a) is not properly secured to the vehicle, or
• (b) is placed on the vehicle in a way that causes the vehicle to be unstable, or
• (c) projects from the vehicle in a way that is likely to injure a person, obstruct the path of other drivers or pedestrians, or damage a vehicle or anything else (for example, the road surface).

The interpretation of this rule varies across jurisdictions, and so do the potential penalties for doing the wrong thing. In New South Wales, for example, the penalty for driving with an unsecured or overhanging load is a $464 on-the-spot fine and three demerit points.