Protruding pallets and mattresses tied down with strings are high on the list of tricky towing tactics that have New South Wales police seeing red.

Fines Driving a vehicle where the load is not secured: Appropriately $815

Driving a vehicle where the load is not secured: Appropriately $815 Drive/two vehicle with overhanging load: $424, three demerit points

Drive/two vehicle with overhanging load: $424, three demerit points Body part outside of vehicle window/door (driver): $319, three demerit points

The Traffic and Highway Patrol unit have begun using social media to expose some of the most foolish and risky drivers snapped overloading their vehicles on roads across the state.

The New South Wales Police Force Traffic and Highway Patrol Facebook page has attracted more than 210,000 "likes" in three years.

Loading

And while the police officers who monitor the page take a serious stance on road safety, the #loadfail images have been some of the most popular posts.

From tumbling truckloads of pallets to couches teetering on roofs, and drivers using one hand to steer and the other to steady, the public have submitted photos daily to the page to shame poor driving behaviour.

NSW Traffic and Highway Patrol Command stakeholder manager chief inspector Phillip Brooks said officers followed up offences caught on camera.

Many audience photos have resulted in charges, warnings and crackdowns in local areas targeting hooning or speeding.

"The page has become a space for people to report issues on the page or through a private message," Inspector Brooks said.

"We have been able to then response in real time and send out patrol cars to where punters are doing burn outs or speeding in particular school zones."

Towering toilet paper and dodgy hauls top the list

Loading

While the traffic command has 1354 officers and 565 vehicles on the roads, the #loadfail posts are contributed almost wholly by other drivers.

"The photos give us hard evidence and car registration plates allow us to move forward and investigate," Inspector Brooks said.

"We act on everything and we have good success in terms of localised community issues.

"We had a photo recently of a punter in a sedan with a load of timber hardware causing the car to drift off the roadway and we took action against that person quickly.

"The next day we went and spoke with him and he admitted to driving the car unsecured.

"The evidence is clear when there is a photograph and in-car video footage from the dashcam."

Inspector Brooks said almost nothing was surprising on the roads anymore, but a recent photo of a van carrying bulk toilet paper on its roof was one of the most unusual towing dilemmas he had seen.

He said while some of the #loadfail images were funny, the offence of overloading a vehicle and could result in a serious crash or even death.

Reaching out for road safety using social media

Inspector Brooks said the Facebook page— set up in 2012— had become an invaluable tool to connect with the community, build trust, generate road safety discussions and home in on problem areas.

"This is more an opportunity for police to showcase what they are doing seven days a week, 24 hours a day in real time," he said.

"Road safety is a global issue, so besides trying to highlight local issues, this is a real time voice for road safety, so we populate the page with not only local photos but things that will capture debate in road safety.

"Patrols and infringements notices mean nothing without awareness."

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading