What Are the Hazards of Overloading?

[Madeleine]

The hazards of overloading include the following points: Inducing traffic safety accidents: Overloaded vehicles operate under excessive load for extended periods, resulting in lower safety performance in braking and handling. This makes them highly prone to dangerous situations such as tire blowouts, brake failures, broken leaf springs, and axle fractures, posing serious hazards to traffic safety. According to statistics, over 80% of road accidents involving heavy-duty trucks are caused by overloading. Shortening the service life of roads: The load of overloaded vehicles generally far exceeds the design capacity of roads and bridges. Their frequent travel causes road surface damage and bridge fractures, significantly reducing the normal service life of roads and necessitating premature major repairs.

[LeAlyssa]

As a seasoned driver with years of experience, I deeply understand the dangers of overloading. The most direct consequence is the increased braking distance. With more cargo piled up, the inertia becomes greater, making it impossible to stop during emergency braking, especially when driving in rain or on mountain roads—it's extremely dangerous. Additionally, steering flexibility is significantly reduced; you can clearly feel the car wanting to drift out during turns, and a slight mistake could lead to a rollover. Moreover, fuel consumption skyrockets. Last time I carried an extra 500 kg of cargo, the fuel cost per 100 km increased by fifteen yuan. Lastly, tires wear out much faster—every extra ton of weight is squeezing the life out of the tires, and a blowout would be disastrous. The scariest part is that these hidden dangers accumulate over time, and by the time an accident happens, it's already too late. Now, I strictly weigh my cargo to ensure safety.

[DeLily]

I've been into car modification for over a decade, and the damage from overloading is far more severe than most imagine. The suspension system takes the hardest hit—springs and shock absorbers working under constant overload often need replacement after just 20,000 kilometers. The engine suffers even worse; my friend's delivery van, regularly overloaded with fruit, ended up with severely worn piston rings and excessive oil burning. The transmission isn't spared either, with gear sets wearing out twice as fast under heavy loads. And let's not forget chassis deformation—once the frame warps, even a wheel alignment can't fix it. Repairs for these issues easily run into tens of thousands, far outweighing any savings on transport costs. That's why I always emphasize chassis reinforcement in my modifications, but also warn owners that reinforcement isn't a free pass to overload.

[OAurora]

From a cost perspective, overloading is truly not worth it. Let's start with fines: last time at a highway toll station, I saw a light truck overloaded by 30% that was immediately fined 2,000 RMB and had six points deducted from the driver's license. Insurance is even worse—insurers will outright deny claims for accidents involving overloaded vehicles, leaving you to shoulder all the losses. Maintenance costs skyrocket too: brake pads wear out twice as fast, and all four tires may need replacing in under two years. Then there are hidden costs: persistently high fuel consumption burns through cash, traffic violations drive up next year’s premiums, and the vehicle’s resale value plummets. Honestly, rather than taking these risks, making an extra trip is far more reliable.

[OwenDella]

There's a national highway right next to my house, and every day I see overloaded trucks damaging the road surface. When these vehicles pass by, the entire ground shakes, turning smooth asphalt roads into potholes and cracks everywhere. What scares me most is when they cross bridges - the limited load-bearing capacity of bridge piers makes them creak alarmingly under overweight trucks. The maintenance crew says most of their annual road repair budget gets spent fixing overload damage. Moreover, road surface damage creates a chain reaction - water accumulation during rain increases skid risks, doubling the chance of truck accidents. Maintaining public roads uses everyone's tax money - ultimately, we're all paying the price for overloading.