The Allen County Sheriff's Office encourages southeast Kansas residents to pack their trucks responsibly this summer season.

 

 Whether you are moving, cleaning up brush and junk, or packing the cooler, chairs, or sporting equipment, remember it is your responsibility to make sure nothing can fly off or fall out of your vehicle.

 

Anything falling from your vehicle can collide with other vehicles or pedestrians, causing serious injuries or fatalities. It is essential for drivers to properly secure their load.

 

Nationwide, from 2016 to 2020, more than 16,000 people were injured per year when a vehicle collided with another object that was not properly secured. During this same time period, an average of 700 people per year lost their lives. Non-commercial passenger vehicles accounted for 81% of these crashes, in which cargo was not properly secured.

 

In their rush to get on the road, drivers may overlook the importance of properly securing a vehicle’s cargo. Before transporting a load, drivers should check that the vehicle’s load is secured on the top, sides, and back, and make sure nothing can blow or fall out.