In California, there were about 45 fatal crashes resulting in 47 deaths as a result of road debris between 2011 and 2014, according to the study.
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“The really troublesome thing about all this is a majority of these crashes are preventable, if drivers would just take the necessary precautions to secure their load or maintain their vehicle properly”, Tamra Johnson of AAA said.
Researchers examined common characteristics of crashes involving road debris and discovered that nearly 37 percent of all fatal crashes involving road debris resulted from a driver swerving to avoid striking an object.
Researchers looked at four years worth of data and found more than 200,000 crashes caused by furniture, mattresses and other items that had fallen off cars and trucks.
If you’ve ever swerved to avoid hitting road debris (and who hasn’t?), the chilling results of a new traffic safety study may make you shudder. Badly worn or under inflated tires can suffer blowouts that leave pieces of tire on the roadway. Potential tire and exhaust system problems can easily be spotted by trained mechanics as part of the routine maintenance performed during every oil change.
Now every state has laws that make it illegal for items to fall from a vehicle while on the road. To properly secure a load, drivers should: 1.
“Unfortunately, drivers that are on the highway are hitting those types of objects”, said Doug Shupe, with AAA Texas. But other examples included a sofa lying in the road, a swing-set in the travel lanes and a boat trailer that detached from its vehicle. Cover the entire load with a study tarp or netting and don’t overload the vehicle. Finally, be sure to not overload the vehicle.
· Drive Defensively: Drivers should continually scan the road at least 12-15 seconds ahead to be prepared for debris.
In 16 states, someone responsible may even face jail time.
Should the need arise, a driver can steer into that open space to avoid contact with an object.
If you see you are about to make contact with debris, safely reduce your speed as much as possible prior to making contact.
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AAA also recommends that drivers avoid tailgating and remain alert while on the road.
