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Recipe for disaster: driver charged over dangerous trailer set up

Michael RobertsMidwest Times
The driver was allegedly towing a load more than 400kg overweight.
Camera IconThe driver was allegedly towing a load more than 400kg overweight. Credit: Supplied

A 52-year-old driver who was allegedly towing a trailer carrying a load more 400kg over the legal weight will front the Geraldton Magistrates Court over a string of traffic offences.

Police allege a Toyota Landcruiser was passing through Mullewa on Friday afternoon with an unregistered boat trailer loaded with a motorcycle, boat and another trailer.

The unregistered boat trailer didn’t have any brakes, meaning under WA law it is only allowed to carry a maximum 750kg.

But police say the trailer was carrying a load of 1150kg, and was 400kg overweight.

Geraldton acting traffic Sgt. Keith Burrows said the setup was a recipe for disaster.

“Once you go over that 750kg that safety net that was built into your braking system has now been compromised,” he said.

“All he needed was for a kangaroo to hop out and for him to slam the brakes and the results would have been catastrophic.

“You can obviously jack-knife or the rear of the car can sway out to one side and a rollover occur.”

Sgt. Burrows said the driver loaded the motorcycle too close to the Landcruiser’s tow ball, which could also have led to a nasty accident.

He said the driver, who is potentially facing a $5000 fine, could have easily lost control if he hit a cattle grid.

“The consequences could be severe,” he said. “We want people to think what they are doing with their loads to make sure their vehicles are safe.”

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