Police fined a motorist who dangerously stacked three skips over each other, before driving onto a motorway.
Some road users were so terrified that they saw a vehicle carrying what they considered to be an insecure load on the M4 close Chippenham.
The industrial containers were stacked precariously, one on top and the other. They could have thrown off the backs of passing vehicles, killing everyone inside.
Officers from Wiltshire Police were horrified to hear that the load had been secured using flimsy straps, which buckled under the stress of its weight.
Traffic cops caught up with the ‘dangerously loaded’ truck at LeighDelamere services, near Chippenham.
The 52-year-old driver got an on-the-spot fine of £880 for having a dangerous load, no MOT and no driver’s smart card.
Road users were terrified to spot a car with three unbalanced skips in it driving along the M4 at Chippenham.
A motorist saw the vehicle and called police to report it.
Officers responded to the call and located the truck at Leigh Delamere Services in Chippenham on Saturday, Dec 18.
The vehicle was adorned with three large skips, which were stacked on top of one another and hanging from the back. It looked out of place.
On examination, it had torn straps and was using the wrong hook type. Additionally, the body of skips was rusted around its hooks.
To prevent the truck from traveling further, police seized it. This caused a tragic accident.
According to the Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency, motorists can be guilty of a variety of offenses.
The driver was not licensed to drive and had no driver’s licence. Additionally, the loading conditions were considered dangerous.
The driver, a 52-year-old man, was handed £880 in fines, given a notice telling him to have the tacho calibrated and the vehicle was seized.
Will Ayres (Wiltshire Police roads policing sergeant) said, “Thanks to this eagle eye member of the public, we were in a position to quickly locate and execute the necessary checks.
“It’s clear that this situation was a danger to road users. We are thankful that we could intervene before further harm was caused.
“Anyone driving these vehicles must ensure that their loads are roadworthy. There are specific rules to follow to make sure they operate in safety.