Motorists could be hit with thousands of pounds in fines for breaking a little-known motoring rule road users may not be aware of. Storing items in a work van may appear completely harmless and will usually not result in any penalties being issued. However, the DVSA has warned that storing too much can start to be a problem, with all vehicles coming with maximum weight limit that motorists must adhere to.
Piling a van with too many items could see the maximum weight exceeded with road users running the risk of charges if caught out by police officers or officials. The news could be a blow to small businesses, sole traders and tradespeople who rely on storing items inside their van as part of their jobs.
Posting on social media site X, the DVSA stressed that a company had been hit within a £4,600 fine for a "dangerously overloaded van”.
They added: “Vehicle weighed 4,940kg, 41% over the 3,500kg limit. This repeat offender faces another £22k fine in a separate case. Overloaded vans aren't just illegal - they can be deadly.”
Motoring experts at Vanarama has explained road users may potentially be charged with dangerous driving for overloading their vehicle.
They stressed vans found to be more than 30% over the weight limits will usually result in a court summons.
The maximum weight is usually listed in the handbook or on the Vehicle Identification Plate.
This should be checked before road users start piling items into their vehicle to ensure they are always complying with the rules.
Meanwhile, experts explained that overloaded vans can pose a major “safety risk” to motorists who are at an increased risk of having an accident.
Vanarama stressed that overloaded vans are much harder to control and can be harder to stop in the event of an emergency,
Vanarama explained: “Driving an overloaded van poses a serious safety hazard to you and other drivers on the road. You may be tempted to maximise your payload and reduce overall fuel costs, but this can be a costly mistake.
“Overloading your van significantly increases fuel consumption, tyres are more prone to wear, steering becomes more difficult to control, and your van will take longer to react to braking – increasing the likelihood of a potentially fatal accident.”