IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1107 
Supporting the designation of National Secure Your Load Day. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 28, 2018 
Mr. REICHERT (for himself and Mr. PASCRELL) submitted the following reso-
lution; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the designation of National Secure Your Load 
Day. 
Whereas driving with an unsecured load presents a danger to 
the traveling public; 
Whereas all 50 States and the District of Columbia have reg-
ulations that pertain to unsecured loads; 
Whereas motorists must recognize their responsibility to 
make safe and considerate choices while driving; 
Whereas the simple, routine act of securely affixing every 
load makes the Nation’s roads safer for all drivers, and 
these precautions should not be overlooked; 
Whereas a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety 
indicates that more than 200,000 crashes caused by un-
secured loads and road debris occurred from 2011 to 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:50 Sep 28, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR1107.IH
HR1107
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with BILLS
•HRES 1107 IH 
2014, resulting in approximately 39,000 injuries and 500 
deaths; 
Whereas a 2012 Government Accountability Office report en-
titled ‘‘Federal and State Efforts Related to Accidents 
That Involve Non-Commercial Vehicles Carrying Unse-
cured Loads’’ acknowledges unsecured loads and road de-
bris as a serious safety hazard stating that there are ap-
proximately 51,000 debris-related crashes on United 
States roadways, killing 440 people and injuring 10,000 
people annually; 
Whereas the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
(NHTSA) stated that in 2016 there were 683 deaths, 
19,663 injuries, and 90,266 incidents related to unsecure 
loads; 
Whereas the United States spends approximately $11.5 bil-
lion dollars on litter and it is estimated that unsecured 
loads and road debris account for up to 40 percent of the 
litter on our roadways; 
Whereas the United States recognizes the profound suffering 
and loss of those harmed by unsecured loads and road 
debris, and stands in solidarity with those critically im-
pacted by such instances of avoidable tragedy; 
Whereas the joint explanatory statement of the committee of 
the conference on H.R. 22 for the FAST Act, enacted in 
2015, stated that ‘‘the conferees are concerned about the 
dangers posed by unsecured loads on the non-commercial 
vehicles. Federal grant funds for state run safety cam-
paigns raising awareness about the dangers posed by un-
secured loads are currently eligible under State Highway 
Programs (23 U.S.C. 402). Therefore the Committee en-
courages states to address unsecured loads the next time 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:50 Sep 28, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR1107.IH
HR1107
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with BILLS
•HRES 1107 IH 
they submit their State Highway Safety Program for ap-
proval by the Secretary (Public Law 114–95)’’; 
Whereas the State of Washington has one of the strongest 
laws that includes penalties for those who do not properly 
secure their loads when driving on Washington State 
roads; 
Whereas, on October 7, 2015, a deadly incident at mile 109.6 
on the New Jersey Turnpike in Kearny occurred as a re-
sult of mattresses and box springs that were not properly 
secured, killing the driver of a gasoline tanker when his 
tanker collided with another vehicle, flipped over the 
guardrail, and caught fire trying to avoid the unsecured 
load which obstructed the road; 
Whereas June 6 is an appropriate day to designate as Na-
tional Secure Your Load Day because that date recog-
nizes Matthew Reif of Arizona, 29, who was killed on 
that date in 2006 when an unsecured 10-pound piece of 
scrap metal from a truck in front of him smashed 
through his windshield; 
Whereas Robin Abel, an advocate from Renton, Washington, 
is the founder of National Secure Your Load Day; and 
Whereas in 2018, there were 27 proclamations declaring 
June 6 as Secure Your Load Day with 48 States partici-
pating: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of a National Se-
cure Your Load Day to honor the lives of those that 
have been impacted by unsecure loads and road de-
bris; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:50 Sep 28, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR1107.IH
HR1107
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with BILLS
•HRES 1107 IH 
(2) that National Secure Your Load Day is for 
all drivers nationwide, including noncommercial and 
commercial drivers; and 
(3) encourages States to promote efforts to 
raise awareness and address unsecure loads on our 
roads and highways. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:50 Sep 28, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR1107.IH
HR1107
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with BILLS