Could Road Debris Cause an Accident During Your Holiday Travels?
There are multiple ways you could be involved in an accident while traveling during the holidays. Ice, severe weather, wildlife collisions, and drunk and distracted drivers are all capable of putting you or your loved ones at risk. However, there is another hazard that does not receive the attention it deserves.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAA), road debris was responsible for more than 500 deaths and 39,000 injuries between 2011 and 2014. Debris could include poorly secured objects that fly off other vehicles or objects left on roads.
Drivers could be injured when objects such as Christmas trees, furniture, driver shafts, tires, or tow trailers come loose and fall off other vehicles. In other cases, drivers may be forced to swerve out of the way to avoid hitting road debris.
AAA maintains that many crashes caused by road debris are preventable. Motorists should properly maintain their vehicles to prevent parts from coming loose. For instance, tire blowouts may leave large pieces of tire on the roadway. Motorists should also secure any objects they are carrying in truck beds or on the top of their vehicles. In addition, it is important to drive at safe speeds while towing or hauling objects. Driving at high speeds can cause objects to come loose.
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