Legal
Don’t get stung by this obscure $263 road rule

Next time you are set to embark on a road trip with the family, you might want to think twice before jam-packing your car with everyone’s belongings.
According to Transport for NSW, it’s an offence to overload a vehicle and exceed the maximum weight limit set by the manufacturer.
A spokesman for Transport for NSW told news.com.au that the little-known rule was in place to prevent wear-and-tear on the roads as well as for safety reasons.
“Overloading a vehicle, by exceeding the maximum weight set by the manufacturer, increases risk by affecting the vehicle’s stability and ability to brake safely,” the spokeswoman said.
“It also significantly increases wear on the road pavement, which can cause potholes, cracking or damage to bridges or road culverts.”
She explained that the Road Transport (General) Regulation introduced the rule for “light vehicles” such as cars, which means that “a person must not drive a vehicle if it is loaded in a manner that prevents the driver from viewing traffic or if the weight or dimensions of the load prevents the driver from safely driving or controlling the vehicle.”
The penalty for breaking the rule is a $263 fine.
If motorists also drive a vehicle with a load that makes the car unstable, they could face a $448 fine and lose three demerit points.
The spokeswoman said the loading requirements for heavy vehicles were governed by the National Heavy Vehicle Law.
NRMA spokeswoman Rebecca Page urged drivers to be mindful of the rule when loading up their cars.
“Common sense plays a big role in how to most safely pack your car. At the NRMA we encourage members to make sure they’re not placing anything in the vehicle that can obscure their view: fluffy dice, oversized luggage or even an incorrectly placed GPS could all potentially create new blind spots,” she said.
“When packing a vehicle make sure everything is secured — flying objects can be very dangerous if you need to break suddenly, and that includes pets.
“There are various safety measures motorists can consider if they know they’re going to be packing a lot into the car. We encourage members to use cargo barriers where suitable and always make sure you don’t overpack a vehicle because it can affect the handling of the vehicle as well as create distractions for the driver.”
To find out your car’s weight limits, look within the Owner’s Manual or contact your local dealership.
Did you know about this road rule? Let us know in the comments below.