Honda Ridgeline driver’s truck may have been overloaded

It’s unclear if police fined the Ridgeline driver for loading dangerous goods and spreading debris on the road

The holidays bring about the best, worst, and sometimes weirdest behavior on the road, like this overloaded Honda Ridgeline that looks more like a moving Christmas garage sale than a car A practical vehicle. For California police, the sight of this ongoing holiday disaster may be just another reminder that the holidays can turn any road into a strange, chaotic wonderland.

On December 17, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in Madera County shared this photo of a crumbling holiday cheer tower on Facebook. While the Honda Ridgeline has earned a reputation as a practical, all-around pickup truck, it certainly exceeds its design brief. In fact, it’s more of a spectacle than a car, a festive fiasco waiting to turn into a real traffic hazard.

Read: Should next-gen Honda Ridgeline look like the new Passport?

Authorities have not provided any information as to why the driver loaded the Ridgeline in such a manner, but perhaps they had just attended an intense pre-Christmas gathering or party and were heading home. The cargo appeared to include parts of a Christmas tree, a small Santa Claus doll, a gold star and various other decorations. According to police, they pulled over on the ridgeline because “debris kept flying onto the road.”

Oddly, there aren’t any clearly visible restraints or ropes – although something must have been used to prevent the rubbish tower from toppling. It would be wise for drivers to at least cover these items with a large tarp. However, it would be wiser to rent a trailer or minivan to transport everything rather than putting other motorists in danger.

Those who commented on the CHP’s Facebook post had some exchanges with the driver, with some suggesting they might be “car Tetris world champions” while others suggested it might be someone behind the wheel trying to steal Christmas The Grinch.

“Always secure your load/cargo and do not exceed the vehicle’s load capacity,” the CHP said in the post. “This can make operations difficult and unsafe. Flying debris may cause motorists to take evasive action and May cause traffic accidents.”

It was unclear whether drivers were ticketed for overloading their trucks or ordered to unload some of the makeshift Christmas parades. But it’s a warning to anyone looking to push their vehicle’s limits this holiday season. The Ridgeline may be a versatile truck, but even it can’t handle the full weight of a bad plan and the rest of us can’t carry flying wire missiles down the road.