Vehicle Overloading Increasing Fatal Crash Risks

According to officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), investigations into many serious accidents continue to reveal that buses, minibuses, tricycles, and trucks were carrying loads far beyond their manufacturer-approved limits at the time of impact.

Also Read: The Hidden Cost of Overloading: How Nigeria’s Trucks and Buses are Destroying Roads and Lives

Safety experts say overloading weakens vehicle stability, overstresses braking systems, and compromises steering control, making drivers far less capable of responding to emergencies.

Automotive engineers explain that every vehicle is designed with a specific load capacity that balances:

• Suspension performance
• Braking efficiency
• Tyre grip
• Chassis strength
• Centre of gravity

When these limits are exceeded, vehicles become unstable. Overloaded cars and buses take longer to stop, sway on corners, and are more likely to roll over during sudden manoeuvres.

For trucks, excessive cargo weight increases the risk of brake failure, tyre blowouts, axle collapse, and loss of control on downhill slopes.

Transport safety analysts warn that once a vehicle’s design balance is altered, even skilled driving cannot fully compensate for the mechanical disadvantage.

FRSC patrol units say commercial vehicles account for the highest number of overloading violations. These include:

• Buses carrying passengers beyond seating capacity
• Vehicles loaded with goods stacked above roof level
• Trucks exceeding axle weight limits
• Tricycles and pickup vans used far beyond design purpose

Officials note that profit pressure, weak enforcement, and passenger desperation often drive operators to overload, especially on inter-state routes and rural corridors.

Emergency responders report that overloaded vehicles are more likely to suffer suspension collapse, tyre bursts, and brake fade, factors commonly observed in high-fatality crashes.

Safety specialists say motorists and passengers should be cautious when they observe:

• Vehicles sagging unusually low
• Excessive body roll on corners
• Struggling acceleration
• Smoke or burning smell from wheels
• Unstable stacking of cargo

Passengers are urged to refuse boarding vehicles that are visibly overloaded.

The FRSC has reiterated that overloading is a serious traffic offence under Nigerian road regulations.

The Corps says it will continue intensified patrols, weighbridge operations, and joint enforcement with other transport regulators to curb the practice.

Transport safety advocates are also calling on motor parks, haulage companies, and logistics firms to enforce strict load compliance policies.

Safety authorities recommend that:

• Drivers adhere strictly to vehicle load ratings
• Transport operators educate staff on weight limits
• Passengers decline overloaded vehicles
• Fleet owners invest in proper cargo management
• Regulators strengthen roadside inspection

Experts stress that the convenience of carrying “just one more person” or “a little extra load” can be the difference between a safe journey and mass tragedy.

Overloading is not merely an operational issue, it is a life-threatening road safety violation.

Until economic pressure, weak oversight, and public tolerance of overloading are addressed, safety officials warn that preventable high-casualty crashes will continue to plague Nigerian roads.