OVERHANGING LOADS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4871, 16 July 1936, Page 4

OVERHANGING LOADS

THE LIMITS FIXED. LENGTH AND WIDTH. 1 i ! The recent fatality in the Wairau Valley, where two motorists lost their lives' when, through miscalculating the amount of clearance, the driver ran his car into the side of a lorry carrying a heavy load of logs, prompted an inquiry by a Post reporter yesterday as to the steps taken by the Wellington traffic authorities to guard against such loading of vehicles as may occasion road dangers. The general motor regulations, it was stated, fix definite limits for overall loading of all road vehicles, and unless special permission is obtained, any person operating a vehicle carrying a load beyond the stated limits is liable to a substantial penalty. The general rules regarding length of load is that the overall measurement of vehicle or trailer and load shall not exceed 30 feet, that the load shall not project more than three feet beyond the radiator, or more than 9ft 6in behind the rear axle (or four feet behind the body), and that projecting loads shall be clearly marked. The overall width of loads is not to exceed eight feet, and the height is to be such as not to interfere with overhead wires, overbridges, etc.Without exception, it was stated, carriers and cartage contractors met the conditions imposed very readily, and when loads of unusual dimensions had to be taken through the city made application for permits, to which, very frequently, were attached special conditions as to the route to be followed, the houKs within which such loads might be shifted, and the methods of marking projecting loads, particularly steel rods, girders, piping, etc., which actually were often more dangerous to other traffic than bulk loading.