Driving - Vehicle loading

How can you keep your car stable while carrying a load?

• Don’t overload the vehicle

  • Can affect the steering and braking of your vehicle

• Distribute the weight evenly

• Fasten the load so it can’t move while you drive

What pre-emptive measures should you take when carrying a load?

• Increase air pressure in the tyres

• Adjust the aim of your headlights

• Fasten the load

• Buy a specially designed roof rack for overhead loads

  • reduces wind resistance (while normal overhead loads will increase it)

  • Loads will be secure and dry

  • May make your car less stable

What shoudl you consider while carrying a load

• It may obstruct your view

• Might stick out and endanger other road users

• Could rain (issue for overhead ones)

How does carrying a load affect fuel?

• Increases fuel consumption

• Increases fuel consumption even more if carrying an overhead load

  • Drag and wind resistance

  • Remove roof rack as wind resistance and drag even with an empty one still increases consumption

How should you restrain animals?

Dogs - Special cage/Pet carriers that can be secured with a seat belt

Away from the driver so they don’t interfere

Towing

• How much can you carry if you passed your driving test after the 1st of Jan 1997

• What should you have if planning to tow a caravan

• What should you have for an unbraked caravan or caravan that weighs less than 1.5 tonnes

• What should you have for an braked caravan or caravan that weighs more than 1.5 tonnes

• What should you do if your caravan starts to swerve or snake

• 3500 Kg maximum authorised mass

• a stabiliser fitted to the tow bar (helps with wind)

• A secondary coupling device like a chain or cable

• A breakaway cable to act in place of brakes/ a failed coupling

• Ease off the accelerator/reduce speed