Puurs-Sint-Amands (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Motorhomes and caravan owners can receive free weight and inspection services currently at the carpool parking area situated on N16 in Puurs-Sint-Amands. Both weight measurements on the weighbridge and additional advice were provided by the police.
Motorhome and caravan owners received free weighing and examination services at the N16 carpool parking facility located in Puurs-Sint-Amands. The police checked vehicles on the weighbridge before giving further safety information for travel. The initiative served to prevent overloading, during which no fines were administered to drivers before starting their journeys.
“We came here with a small heart, because we didn’t know how much we could still load into our newly purchased motorhome,”
say Ronny and Sandra. Fortunately, the result on the weighbridge is positive:
“We can still load our bikes and all our luggage, so we can rest assured when we leave for Austria later because there is a zero tolerance there.”
The vehicles not only have to be loaded with luggage, they are also weighed with a full fuel tank, water and gas reservoir. And the weight of the occupants also counts.
“You really have to pay attention to what you take with you, for example I make sure to take plastic plates and cutlery,”
says Sandra.
“And we take lighter bikes. We don’t even have a kilo to spare.”
According to chief inspector Weyns, there are quite a few vehicles that are close to their maximum permissible mass.
“The stability of the vehicle in particular can be endangered, but the braking distance also becomes a lot longer. And if the axle is overloaded, then you are going to damage the road surface.”
“About a third of the vehicles we checked today were overloaded. In reality, the drivers would have received a fine of 400 euros. But today we did not issue any fines. We also often gave tips about, for example, regulations, technical aspects, driving license, securing loads and the highway code. This way, everyone can leave safely.”
What are the risks and regulations behind motorhome weight checks?
The safety risks developing from overloading motorhomes extend to stability loss together with longer stopping times and increased road deterioration. Regulations in the European Union specify weight restrictions for motorhomes based on their design dimensions in combination with axle specifications.
Belgium imposes maximum mass fines of up to €400, and Austria and Germany maintain zero-tolerance policies for weight violations. The Belgian Road Safety Institute conducted research in 2022, which detected overloading issues in nearly 20% of recreational vehicles, which subsequently caused accidents and machinery breakages.
The inspection initiative in Puurs-Sint-Amands takes place as part of extensive road safety efforts during busy travel times. Most recreational vehicle owners fail to recognise how swiftly loading their vehicles with such items as cargo, passengers and fuel and water can result in legal overcapacity.
According to police statistics, motorhome weight violations have increased by 12% since 2020 because more people started traveling after the pandemic. Authorities stress preventive strategies due to minor weight violations causing tire suspension and braking system strains, which create elevated accident risks.
