The Straits Times reported that the number of lorry drivers caught overloading workers on their vehicles is on the rise, going by latest figures provided by the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
There were 559 notices issued to drivers for carrying too many passengers on lorry load decks for the first eight months of this year alone, surpassing the 429 notices issued for the whole of last year.
Since September last year, every worker has been required to have at least 8 sq ft of deck space to himself, up from 4 sq ft previously. Another rule was introduced to reduce the number of workers that may be carried, if goods or equipment are also transported, according to the remaining available floor space.
Business owners from construction and landscaping sectors who require the ferrying of workers said that drivers sometimes 'try their luck'. They do so when they have one or two workers who cannot get onto a lorry due to its maximum capacity.
Companies may also try to save cost by putting off investing in more vehicles, and also time, by discouraging double trips as the vehicles are usually used to transport goods.
The first offence of overloading workers on lorries carries a $500 fine and six demerit points. A repeat offence warrants court action.
