Debris on roadways injure thousands, kill dozens each year

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Thousands of people are injured and dozens die every year due to debris on our roads.

And this is considered Road Debris Season. Summer is the most popular time for people to move and clean out their homes. That often means they are on the highways transporting things that have a tendency to end up on the highways.

It's sometimes hard to tell whether you're at a yard sale or on the highway. Need a headboard? A box spring? A desk? It doesn't seem to matter what side of freeway or what side of the Ohio River -- debris, parts of vehicles and entire vehicles are everywhere.

There’s been a car on the shoulder of I-471 in Newport for about three weeks. It has a note to police saying, "Please don't tow, I'll be back on July 1st to fix the tire." As it is July 11, it does not appear that is going to happen.

Jenifer Moore from AAA says debris isn’t just an eyesore, it’s dangerous.

"You have to swerve to try to avoid it,” said Moore. “And that could cause you to crash into someone else and endanger lives."

AAA takes road debris seriously. It released a nationwide study a few years ago that showed approximately 50,000 police-reported crashes occur every year due to road debris, 9,800 of which end up in injury, including 125 deaths per year on average due to road debris. AAA stresses it's incumbent upon drivers to stay vigilant and do what it calls "visual scanning."

"Not only look at your mirrors, but also turn your head and look at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead of you to see what is coming toward you,” said Moore.

"We just want people to stop littering,” said Mandi Dillon with the Ohio Department of Transportation. “And we want to make sure people are securing their loads."

ODOT says it's incumbent upon those traveling with loads to make sure they're secure. Here is the Ohio Revised Code:

4513.31 Securing loads on vehicles.

(A) No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is so constructed, loaded, or covered as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping therefrom, except that sand or other substance may be dropped for the purpose of securing traction, or water or other substance may be sprinkled on a roadway in cleaning or maintaining the roadway.

(B) Except for a farm vehicle used to transport agricultural produce or agricultural production materials or a rubbish vehicle in the process of acquiring its load, no vehicle loaded with garbage, swill, cans, bottles, waste paper, ashes, refuse, trash, rubbish, waste, wire, paper, cartons, boxes, glass, solid waste, or any other material of an unsanitary nature that is susceptible to blowing or bouncing from a moving vehicle shall be driven or moved on any highway unless the load is covered with a sufficient cover to prevent the load or any part of the load from spilling onto the highway.

A violation is a minor misdemeanor.

Both ODOT and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet say they contract with companies to keep the debris from the sides of the roads. Things like blown truck tires and even ODOT debris left behind, like cones and barrels. But, they say if it's not an immediate danger to drivers, it may sit there awhile.

Local 12 asked Dillon if there are enough resources for ODOT to take care of some of the debris.

"Our crews are very busy, that is true,” she said. “We do a lot of different types of maintenance work -- mowing, guard rail repairs, pothole patching and all that."

Local 12 called the Newport Police about that car left for three weeks on the shoulder of I-471. It was removed by the end of the day, and that's part of the solution: If you see something on the highway, say something. If it appears like it could be a hazard, just call 911.

Ohio State Highway Patrol tells Local 12 it will tow cars from the interstate after 48 hours unless they are within city limits. Then it's the city's responsibility.

year