The driver of a jeep towing a trailer with a skip was grounded by Gardaí recently due to the detection of road safety offences.

The driver in question was stopped by members of An Garda Síochána in Co. Cavan last week over road safety concerns due to excessive weight on the jeep and trailer with one tyre defective.

Taking to social media on Friday (August 13), Gardaí based in the Cavan-Monaghan division said:

"Earlier in the week this vehicle was stopped by the Gardai in Bailieboro. The legal gross combination weight of this jeep, trailer and load should not exceed 6t.

"There were also no tail lights or brake lights on the trailer.

"The vehicle and trailer were seized for a PSV [public service vehicle] inspection and a prosecution will now follow."

According to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), all vehicles should have a plate stating its towing capacity.

It is illegal to exceed the stated towing capacity, which is the maximum weight the vehicle can draw.

In addition, it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure a trailer is roadworthy:

This, the RSA notes, includes basics such as ensuring that: “tyres have adequate tread depth and are free from defects; lights and brakes are working; and the hitch is in good condition”.