GILLETTE, Wyo. — On June 6, the Wyoming Highway Patrol is recognizing and participating in Secure Your Load Day, a nationally recognized safety campaign educating drivers on the importance of properly securing cargo in their vehicle, according to a Wyoming Highway Patrol release.
In 2022, there were 895 deaths and 17,203 injuries nationally stemming from an unsecured vehicular load, according to the release. It is the goal of Secure Your Load Day to prevent these incidents.
As part of the release, the Wyoming Highway Patrol shared a few anecdotes of drivers fatally struck by unsecured cargo from vehicles ahead of them nationwide. The release implores Wyoming residents to not forget the stories behind these incidents.
“These people are the reason we push to educate the public on the importance of good load securement,” the release stated.
Some of the featured stories include a driver in Arizona who was fatally struck by metal traveling through his windshield from the vehicle in front of him in 2006, a driver in Alabama who died last month in a similar fashion and the founder of Secure Your Load Day’s daughter, who was the victim of an unsecured load 20 years ago.
The purpose of Secure Your Load Day is to prevent these incidents from happening again through education. The release reminded drivers that these occurrences are not accidents and were most likely completely preventable.
“Bottom line, all loads need to be securely fastened to the vehicle at all times,” the release said. “You do not get to say it is below the truck bed, it is heavy or light, crammed in or that you only secure what you think needs to be secured. Those are not secured loads. You must secure all loads at all times.”
Additionally, the release encourages companies nationally to commit to paying better attention to how well loads are secured on company vehicles.
Last year, 46 states participated in Secure Your Load Day, and the Wyoming Highway Patrol press release thanks all who participated. For more information on Secure Your Load Day, see the organization’s website.
