Over 10-ton Metal Blocks 'Thud'... Drivers Uneasy Over Repeated Falling Loads

Coil Falling Accident on Gyeongbu Expressway Towards Busan
(Cheongju=Yonhap News) At around 1:10 PM on the 22nd, a hot coil (steel sheet used in automobiles and home appliances) loaded on a 25-ton truck fell onto the road at the 294 km mark on the southbound lane of the Gyeongbu Expressway towards Busan in Namim-myeon, Seowon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk Province. The photo shows the scene of the coil falling accident. 2021.7.22
[Provided by Cheongju Western Fire Station. Redistribution and DB prohibited]

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Accidents involving cargo weighing over 10 tons falling from trucks on highways continue to occur.

On the 22nd at around 1:10 PM, a hot coil (steel sheet used in automobiles and home appliances) loaded on a 25-ton truck rolled off onto the road at the 294 km mark of the Gyeongbu Expressway southbound towards Busan in Namim-myeon, Seowon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk.

The truck driver, Mr. A (in his 40s), sustained minor injuries and was transported to the hospital.

Additionally, a secondary accident occurred when a following truck tried to avoid the coil and collided with another truck. Fortunately, the drivers involved in the accident were reported to have not been seriously injured.

The police believe the accident happened because the truck carrying the hot coil made a sudden stop, causing the coil to shift towards the front of the vehicle.

Earlier in May, at the 21 km mark of the Dangjin-Yeongdeok Expressway heading towards Yeongdeok in Boeun-gun, Chungbuk, a 13-ton steel coil loaded on a 25-ton truck fell and struck a Carnival van carrying a family.

At that time, the truck driving in the second lane changed lanes to avoid traffic congestion, during which the hot coil fell and struck the van that was stopped in the adjacent lane.

As a result of this accident, an 8-year-old girl, Ms. B, was rescued in cardiac arrest and transported to the hospital but ultimately passed away. The girl's mother, who was in the driver's seat, sustained serious injuries, while two other family members in the front passenger seat and right rear seat narrowly escaped harm.

Photo by Yonhap News

Accidents involving cargo falling from moving vehicles occur repeatedly over time.

According to statistics from the Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency, 36 cargo falling accidents occurred in the province over the past four years (2018 to May 2021), resulting in 3 deaths and 54 injuries.

Despite the continuous occurrence of cargo accidents on roads, related regulations remain extremely lax.

The current Enforcement Rules of the Freight Truck Transportation Business Act require transport operators to use covers, packaging, or securing devices to prevent cargo from falling during transport. However, detailed safety standards based on the characteristics of the cargo have not been established.

For example, the standard for coils only states that they must be secured using steel structures or wedges to prevent slipping, rolling, or tilting.

A police official pointed out, "Allowing drivers discretion when cargo falls from moving vehicles is undesirable because it can lead to major accidents," adding, "Detailed guidelines based on cargo characteristics should be created, such as specifying the cost or type of rope to be used for securing a 13-ton coil."