A strange but very dangerous accident involving furniture happened in the Slovak capital over the weekend. While driving, a sofa unexpectedly detached from the trailer of a car and flew into the oncoming lane, right under the wheels of a police patrol car.
Consequences of the impact and driver's responsibility
Because the road was narrow, the police crew had no room to maneuver. The furniture crashed into the left side of the service car, causing material damage. The police officers were not injured, but the police note that if the heavy object had flown into the windshield or hit a motorcyclist, the consequences would have been tragic.
According to Slovak law (Zákon o cestnej premávke - Road Traffic Act), the driver is fully responsible for securely fastening the cargo. If you transport items in an open trailer or on the roof, the police require you to follow clear rules:
The cargo must be secured so that it cannot shift, tip over, or fall onto the road while driving.
Items must not block headlights, taillights, or license plates.
The driver must check that the cargo is securely fastened before starting the trip.
For unsecured cargo that creates a danger on the road, the police issue a fine on the spot (blokové konanie - on-the-spot fine procedure). In serious cases, when there is a direct threat to other road users, the police may even confiscate the driver's license.
