Secure Your Load: Save Lives and Reduce Litter

Written by Robin Abel, Founder of Secure Your Load

Eighteen years ago this February, I received the call that is every parent’s worst nightmare. It was Harborview Hospital and the woman said, “is your daughter Maria?” I said yes and she said, “she is in critical condition you need to get here as soon as you can.” 

Maria was on her way home from work that night when someone ahead of her had lost a piece of furniture. The 40 lb. board went through her windshield hitting her in the face at 55 miles per hour. She was almost completely decapitated. Against all odds she fought to live. A few days later she had the best of surgeons work around the clock to give her a new face.  In an instant, our lives changed that night all because someone did not properly secure their load.

In 2005, Washington State passed legislation that I wrote that would make an unsecured load a gross misdemeanor with possible jail time if someone were injured or dies because of an unsecured load.  My reason for changing the law was to make the law serious enough to get everyone’s attention and make victim’s eligible to apply for Crime Victim’s Compensation. In Maria’s case, the driver was given a ticket for littering, having an unsecured load, not having valid driver’s license, and operating without insurance. My daughter’s life was forever changed and this incident was totally preventable.

After changing the law, my mentor, Norm Maleng, the late King County Prosecutor, told me that changing the law is only the start, the hard work is really educating the public about the law. Much has been accomplished since that night in 2004.

Honoring my promise, I have changed two laws in Washington State, had language in four national transportation bills ordering a national study on unsecured loads and road debris, and secured funding for states to help educate the public about load securement.  My Secure Your Load section in the Washington Driver’s Guide is now in a model manual for non-commercial driver’s nationwide, and in the future, there will be a rotating question on the driver’s test for unsecured loads. I was supported by and worked with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) to accomplish these changes.

Unsecured loads are a big contributor to the litter you see out on our roadways.  I have been told that it could be as much as 40% of the problem or more. As a nation, we spend about $11.5 billion dollars on litter and programs and still we are only able to pick up a portion of the litter out there. While most states have a law about unsecured loads, the key to their success relies on enforcement and education.

National Secure Your Load Day is June 6. I started this safety campaign because I wanted to let the states know there was federal money available to help them educate the public and that they needed to help to get the word out. Almost every state enthusiastically joined in at my request. Last year, I had 49 states participate and have received 27 Proclamations from Governors and cities joining in. Some states and cities have even done a whole week or month of load securement emphasis and education. In Oklahoma, Keep Oklahoma Beautiful joined in with state officials for a statewide safety campaign for the week of June 6th.

Please do not think that I have done all this alone.  I have only been successful because many great people believed in what I am doing.  This is a grass roots effort.  Here is how you can help.

·       Here are a few tips for securing your load.

·       Tie it down with rope, netting, or straps.

·       Tie large objects directly to your vehicle or trailer.

·       Consider covering the entire load with a sturdy tarp or netting.

·       Don’t overload your vehicle or trailer.

·       Always double-check your load to make sure it’s secure.

·       Don’t forget that animals should also be properly secured.

We all share an important goal: To keep our families safe on the roadways, save lives, injuries and reduce litter. Please join me and help educate those around you.  By speaking up and sharing this story you just might save someone’s life.

“Secure Your Load as if everyone you love is driving in the car behind you.”