Montgomery, AL –To ensure that everyone is safe on the roads of America the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) has joined forces together with U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to remind drivers to drive safe: Secure Your Cargo Keep Your Vehicle Clean and Free of Debris on the road. It is the responsibility of every driver to ensure that all items are securely secured and does not be able to fall or spill during the transit. Unsecured cargo poses an injury risk to the highways of our state.

All U.S. state has a law that makes it illegal for drivers to operate a non-commercial motorized vehicle with a load that is not secured. The violation of these laws can result in specific penalties for the state of the victim as high as $5,000. Debris or objects can drop from vehicles and impact pedestrians or vehicles and cause grave injuries or even death. This is why it is crucial to protect your cargo.

ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said, “Many drivers believe it is only the commercial drivers who are accountable for the security of their cargo. We want the public to understand that every driver has a obligation to ensure that their cargo is securely secure to the vehicle in order to safeguard other vehicles, drivers and pedestrians. Troopers in the ALEA’s Motor Carrier Safety Unit (MCSU) are committed to educating drivers, and businesses, on the importance of secured loads on any trailer or vehicle prior to transporting them to avoid unsecured load accidents and to prevent accidents on Alabama’s highways.”

Between 2016 and 2020 168,878 people were injured each year across the country in the event of a collision between a vehicle and an object that was not secured. In the same time frame the average was 732 people per year were killed. Non-commercial passenger cars accounted for 81 percent of the accidents, where cargo was not secured properly.

While June 6 is National Secure Your Load Day across the country, ALEA has been actively cooperating together with People Against a Littered State (PALS) in Alabama to disseminate information and raise awareness about the importance of safeguarding your load and also stopping littering on Alabama’s beautiful roads. in 2022 ALEA initially partnered with PALS to create Litter Law Brochures, which were distributed by ALEA’s Public Relations Officers at safety events. They were also put in Driver License Examining Offices throughout the state. In March 2023 ALEA together with PALS started a statewide anti-litter initiative dubbed “Secure Your Load and Avoid Litter in the Road’ in an effort to protect lives, avoid damage, and help preserve Alabama beautiful.

Alabama PALS is a nonprofit state-wide organization that is committed to implementing anti-litter programs to all Alabama cities, counties as well as schools, communities and other organizations that strive to improve their economic and environmental impact through a less littered, cleaner and more beautiful surroundings.

Director of the ALEA’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) Colonel Jon Archer reiterated that not only is throwing garbage or other debris from your vehicle in violation of the law, it’s also very dangerous. Alabama State Law allows a penalty of up to $3,000 as well as 100 hours community service in the case of an offense of littering that is a misdemeanor. Find out more the details of Alabama Littering Laws here.

“Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily tasks, it’s important not to overlook the importance of properly securing your cargo. Prior to transporting a load be sure to secure the load from every angle, including top side, side, and rear making sure there is no space for things to blow off or fall. Be sure that your load is secured even in the most unexpected situations like sudden braking, speed bumps or accidents with vehicles.” Col. Archer advised.

Use these guidelines to ensure that you are properly secured the cargo:

  • Secure it with rope or netting.
  • Connect large objects directly onto your trailer or vehicle.
  • You could consider wrapping the entire load in an edging or tarp that is strong enough.
  • Do not overburden your trailer or vehicle.
  • Always double-check your load to be sure that it’s safe.

For more information about the campaign, visit Secure the Load. For more information on PALS and how you can assist in keeping Alabama litter-free, please visit ALPALS: Alabama People against an Littered State.