CHARLESTON, WV – The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) is teaming up the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to remind drivers to Drive Safe: Secure Your Load. It is every driver’s responsibility to ensure all cargo is safely secured. Items not properly secured pose a safety risk on our nation’s roadways.
Every U.S. state has a law making it illegal for a driver to operate a non-commercial motor vehicle with an unsecured load. Violating these laws can carry state-specific penalties of up to $5,000. Objects or debris can fall from vehicles and collide with other vehicles or pedestrians, causing serious injuries or fatalities. For this reason, it is essential for drivers to properly secure their load.
National Secure Your Load Day in West Virginia was celebrated on Tuesday, June 6, 2025. This day, which began in 2004, aims to raise awareness about the importance of properly securing loads to prevent crashes and injuries caused by flying debris. West Virginia, like other states, has laws in place to ensure that loads are secured to prevent them from falling off vehicles.
In West Virginia, a first offense for an unsecure load, resulting in an escaped load, carries a fine of $250. Subsequent offenses within a 12-month period result in escalating fines: $500 for the second offense and $1,000 for a third offense, with potential permit revocation. A third offense can also result in jail time. Additionally, fines may vary depending on the specific nature of the violation and whether it resulted in physical injury.
“Many drivers think that only commercial vehicle drivers are responsible for securing their cargo,” said Jack McNeely, director of the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program. “We want our community to know that it is every driver’s responsibility to ensure their load is properly secured to their vehicle to protect other vehicles, drivers, and bystanders,” McNeely said.
From 2016 to 2020, an average of 16,878 people were injured per year when a vehicle collided with another object that was not properly secured. During this same period, an average of 732 people per year lost their lives. Non-commercial passenger vehicles accounted for 81 percent of these crashes, in which cargo was not properly secured.
In the rush of the day, it can be easy for drivers to overlook the importance of properly securing a vehicle’s cargo. Before transporting a load, drivers should check that the vehicle’s load is secured on the top, sides, and back, and make sure nothing can blow or fall out. Ensure the load is safe if the vehicle was to suddenly brake or hit a bump, or if the vehicle were to be hit by another vehicle. Drivers should ask: Would they feel safe driving behind the loaded vehicle?
Drivers should follow these tips to ensure properly secure cargo:
- Tie cargo down with rope, netting, or straps.
- Tie large objects directly to the vehicle or trailer.
- Consider covering the entire load with a sturdy tarp or netting.
- Don’t overload the vehicle or trailer.
- Always double-check the load to make sure it’s secure.
For more information on this campaign, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/drive-safe-secure-your-load.
For more information about the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, visit highwaysafety.wv.gov or call 304-926-2509.
The purpose of the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) is to encourage, promote, and support highway safety across West Virginia through the implementation of federally mandated and funded highway safety improvement measures. The GHSP reflects Governor Patrick Morrisey’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety of every traveler by raising awareness of common dangerous driving conditions. GHSP safety initiatives aim to decrease impaired and distracted driving, increase seat belt and child safety seat usage, and target speed reduction, among other goals.
