Kohima, January 24 (MTNews): The Motor Vehicles Department has informed that overloaded heavy vehicles will be penalized as per the Motor Vehicle Act 1988.
The Transport Commissioner Nagaland in a press release stated that overloaded vehicles threaten road safety and are contributing to many fatal accidents on the roads. As such, overloading on highways and roads are becoming a complex issue of concern in the state.
It said the problem of overloading of heavy vehicles is causing damage to the road infrastructure and rapid deterioration of roads resulting in increased maintenance and transportation costs and also increasing the possibility of unnecessary loss of life.
The Department said if any vehicle is found to be overloaded, the driver will be asked to off-load the excess weight at his own risk and not to remove the vehicle or trailer from that place until the laden weight has been reduced. The Department further cautioned that defaulters will be liable to pay a fine of minimum 20,000 rupees and 2,000 rupees per excess tonne of load.
Overloading Risks and Threats to Road Safety:
. Overloaded vehicles threaten road safety and are contributing to many fatal accidents on the roads. The overloaded vehicle not only puts the driver at risk but also passengers and other road users.
. The vehicle is reduced in its stability, difficult to steer and takes longer to stop, and reacts differently when the maximum weights which they are designed to carry are exceeded.
. Overloaded vehicles can cause the tyres to overheat and wear rapidly which increases the chance of premature, dangerous, and expensive failure or blow-outs.
. The driver’s control and operating space in the overloaded vehicle are diminished, escalating the chances of an accident.
. An overloaded vehicle cannot accelerate normally thus making it difficult to overtake
. At night, the headlights of an overloaded vehicle tilt up and this can be momentarily blinding to oncoming drivers.
. Brakes have to work harder because the vehicle is heavier due to overloading. Brakes overheat and lose their effectiveness to stop.
. The whole suspension system comes under stress and, over time, the weakest point can give way and can lead to traffic obstruction.
. The overloaded vehicle will incur higher maintenance costs to the vehicle – tyres, brakes, shock absorbers, and higher fuel consumption.