Grain carriers with loads of more than 50 tonnes have been caught, while up to 40 tonnes are allowed
124 inspections of oversized heavy vehicles were carried out by the mobile teams of the Road Infrastructure Agency and the Executive Agency Road Transport Administration in the last weekend of February. The inspections were carried out in the period from 23 to 25 February this year together with officials of the Ministry of Interior on the territory of the Burgas region and in the area of the port of Burgas. Special inspections are continuing in other cities across the country, with a particular focus on truck overloading.
The aim of the joint actions is to minimize risks to the life and health of commuters by ensuring safe traffic conditions on sections with heavy traffic and reducing the preconditions for traffic accidents.
The mobile teams of the RIA and the EARTA check the drivers' documents and use mobile electronic scales to establish the maximum permissible axle load and the maximum permissible mass. Vehicle dimensions are also measured by technical means.
During the inspections, the Road Infrastructure Agency staff issued 14 administrative offence tickets under the Road Act and the Road Traffic Act. Vehicles were found to have weighed much more than the permitted axle load and maximum permissible mass. For 4-axle vehicles the maximum permissible weight is 32 tonnes and for 5-axle vehicles 40 tonnes. Several grain trucks weighing more than 50 tonnes were seized, as well as an oversized vehicle loaded with 47 tonnes of scrap, against a maximum of 40 tonnes allowed.
The inspectors of Executive Agency Road Transport Administration have checked 42 heavy goods vehicles and 6 tickets have been issued. One of the trucks checked was overloaded. Three vehicles were found to have offences related to the use of the tachograph. Two other tickets were issued for an incomplete waybill.
Passing of overloaded vehicles on national roads is not only a serious safety hazard for all road users, but also leads to serious damage to the road surface.