Although state officials have previously proclaimed June 6 as “Secure Your Load Day,” its purpose is intended to remind people throughout the state of the importance of securing their load while traveling on roadways. When loads are not properly secured, they can fall off directly and crash into nearby vehicles, or they can create a dangerous hazard on the roadway.
About Secure Your Load Day
The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of Transportation announced the day and had informational sessions with the public. Representatives from various transportation departments, local police and public information officers provided educational information to those who attended. They also brought debris that had been found on Texas roadways and put it on display for people to see. Additionally, Texas Department of Transportation employees presented a demonstration on how to properly secure items in a pickup truck.
Statistics on Road Debris and Injuries
A vehicle traveling at 55 mph that has an object that weighs 20 pounds fall off of it will strike with the force of 1,000 pounds, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. A 2016 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that road debris played a role in more than 200,000 crashes that were reported to law enforcement agencies between 2011 and 2014. These accidents resulted in more than 500 deaths and more than 39,000 injuries. AAA reports that this is a 40% increase since 2001 when the organization first studied the issue.
The study also provided useful insight into the causes and effects of the problem of unsecured loads and reported the following:
- Approximately 37% of all deaths involved in these crashes were caused by the driver swerving to avoid hitting an object
- About two-thirds of these accidents resulted from an object falling from a vehicle or trailer
- One-third of the crashes involved debris between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when many people are moving furniture, taking trash to a landfill or hauling other items
- Crashes were more likely to occur on highways or interstates where speeds are higher
The study mirrored a 2012 Government Accountability Office study. It estimated that there were 440 deaths and 10,000 injuries in 2010 alone that involved unsecured loads. This study also discovered that more fatalities and injuries occurred in states with fewer laws in place to deal with this problem. Currently, all 50 states have laws against unsecured loads. However, the penalty for violating these laws drastically varies with only 16 states imposing possible jail time for violators and only 11 with fines that exceed $500.
The Texas Department of Transportation reports that in 2017, there were 1,241 road-debris crashes reported due to a load not being properly secured. Five of these accidents resulted in deaths and another 200 caused injuries.
Texas Law on Falling Debris
Texas law requires motorists to secure any loads they carry on their vehicle or trailer.
Common Causes of Debris-Related Crashes
Debris-related crashes are commonly caused by the following:
- Parts that have detached from a vehicle, such as tire tread, tires, wheels or other parts
- Tow trailers become separated and hit another vehicle
- Furniture, appliances or other large objects fall onto the roadway
How to Properly Secure a Load
The AAA recommends following these tips to properly secure loads:
- Tie down the load with rope, netting or straps at all sides of the load
- Use tie down points that are built into trucks or trailers
- Tie large objects directly to the vehicle or trailer
- Do not overload the vehicle
- Cover the load with a sturdy tarp and secure it near the front
- Ensure the load is tightly secured and check this sporadically as you travel
How to Avoid Road-Debris Accidents
There are several steps that you can take when you are hauling a load or are nearby other vehicles that are hauling debris to avoid a road-debris accident. Here are some tips to avoid these types of crashes:
- Maintain your vehicle – Tire blowouts are a real hazard and can also lead to dangerous tread affecting other motorists on the roadway. Replace worn-out tires and check your tire pressure often. Have your exhaust system periodically inspected to avoid parts from it becoming loose.
- Keep your distance – Maintain open space on at least one side of your vehicle at all times, if possible in case you need to swerve around an object. Also, leave at least 3-4 seconds of following distance between other vehicles.
- Reduce your speed – If you know that you will not be able to avoid debris, safely reduce your speed as much as possible before encountering it.
- Scan the road – Continually scan the road ahead of you of at least 12 seconds for debris, objects or other hazards. This will give you more time to safely react to any hazard.
Legal Help for Road Debris Accidents
If you are injured in an accident caused by someone overloading their vehicle or not securing their load, it is important that you understand your right to recover in this situation. Our experienced lawyers can discuss your legal options and paths to recovery. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
