How to boot the car?

Even the most modern automotive equipment cannot prevent danger if the basic rules are not followed during the transportation of goods. This can often be seen on the road - the overall load is fixed incorrectly, a long profile sticks out of the window, and a huge sheet of drywall is tied to the roof.

What does the law say?

The rules of the road indicate that the transported cargo must be securely fastened. If its dimensions are 40 cm higher than the lateral dimensions or it is longer than a meter longer, then it must be marked with special bright ribbons.

In addition to dimensions, the weight of the cargo is mentioned in the rules - it should not exceed the permissible norms specified in the technical documentation of the car. If a bulk load is being transferred, it should not block road signs and traffic lights for other road users.

The transported cargo must not spoil the road surface or pollute the environment. In any case, transported items should not endanger either other participants in the movement or passengers in the vehicle. Also, the driver should see the road well.

What does physics say?

At speed, the mass of a moving body increases several times, and at the same time, its kinetic energy increases. In a collision, all these factors lead to irreparable harm.

On the one hand, it is gravitational force that holds objects on the ground. As is well known, there are also acceleration forces (positive and negative) and centrifugal forces that act vertically, on both sides, back and forth. Given this, the load must be secured not only in the calculation of the acceleration of the machine, but also in the calculation of braking and turning.

Two basic loading rules

When loading a car, it is important to adhere to two principles:

• The higher the friction force between the belt (or another tensioner that secures the load) and the fixed objects, the less likely they are to move around the car body. For this reason, strong ropes should be used.
• To prevent the belts from loosening during movement, it is necessary to minimize the free space between objects. The same principle will allow you to put a lot of things in a passenger car (this is called trunk ergonomics).

13 practical tips for loading correctly

Anyone who plans a trip, seeks to load the car to the maximum - to take with you everything you need. To avoid serious problems, follow these tips:

1. Before downloading, take the time to plan. How to effectively use the storage space (for example, with small things you can fill in the empty space in bulk objects)? What should be unloaded first (it should be put last)?

2. Always place heavy objects below directly against the wall of the rear seat or in the legroom of the back row. In the case of station wagons, this will protect against tearing the body.

3. If possible, the center of gravity of the load should always be on the average longitudinal plane of the vehicle.

4. If space permits, leave the rear seatback upright as extra protection and keep the seat belts locked.

5. Loads should not slip, tip over, roll or even fly. If during movement you notice that the load is not secured enough, stop and lock it again. Pay attention to the attachment points in the car and read the manufacturer's information before leaving. Use seat belts and extra safety nets.

6. If the cargo is bulky, choose the most suitable transportation option, for example, carriers of furniture, trailers, luggage racks, etc.

7. Place most of the small loads (such as tools) in lockable shipping crates and do not transport them freely in the car.

8. Pay attention to the total permissible weight and axle load, especially for heavy loads.

9. Adjust the tire pressure to the load. Look at the nameplate on the driver’s door or in the car’s instruction manual.

10. Adjust headlights according to the weight and an inclination of the car.

11. Protect the load from damage with blankets or blankets.

12. Never use the boot lid for transporting goods. They cannot be fixed here.

13. If you want to be absolutely sure, do a test circle to check braking distance, acceleration and lateral stability.

Two special cases

Here are two special factors that should be given special attention.

Cargo on the roof

Heavy things are not recommended to be transferred on the roof, as they violate the stability of the machine (the center of gravity becomes higher, and there is a risk of tipping over in a bend). It is also worth considering that due to excessive weight on the mound, the roof can be deformed.

The maximum load on the upper trunk can be found in the technical literature of this vehicle. Experiments in this case can be fraught with serious injuries.

Kids in car

This is another situation where experiments are contraindicated. If a child is in a loaded car, you should carefully lock the load, as well as the child seat. Read how to install it correctly. here. Remember that head restraints must be appropriate for the height of the child.