A vehicle has a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) limit of 18 tonnes. The front axle limit is 6.5 tonnes and the rear axle limit is 11.5 tonnes. Why might you face prosecution for overloading even if your total weight is exactly 17.5 tonnes?

1. Because 17.5 tonnes is always rounded up to 18.5 tonnes by enforcement officers
2. If the load is incorrectly positioned, it can overload the rear axle beyond 11.5 tonnes while the overall weight remains under 18 tonnes
3. Because driving a vehicle at 95 percent of its GVW is illegal in the UK
4. Because axle weights are only measured when the vehicle is empty