Road debris

**Causes of Road Debris**:
– Objects falling off vehicles.
– Natural disasters like wind, storms, tornadoes, hurricanes.

**Examples of Road Debris**:
– Particulates, dirt, sand, mud.
– Asphalt, concrete, rocks, stones.
– Road salt, de-icers.
– Litter, food waste, animal feces.
– Car parts, broken glass, sharp objects.

**Effects of Road Debris**:
– Hazard causing loss of vehicle control.
– Over 800 deaths from non-fixed objects in the US in 2011.
– Vehicle-related debris causing 25,000 accidents yearly.
– Impact on road users like bicyclists, visibility, and vehicle damage.
– Environmental impact on soil, water contamination, and local ecosystems.

**Prevention and Mitigation of Road Debris**:
– Use of car bras and fenders.
– Street sweepers and winter service vehicles.
– Adopt a Highway program.
– Road signs and variable-message signs.
– Regular road inspection and debris removal.

**Education, Laws, and Policy Enforcement**:
– Securement of loads and littering laws.
– Legislation requiring covered loads.
– Reporting unsafe vehicles and unsecured loads.
– Increased fines and demerit points for unsecured loads.
– Making road debris incidents an absolute-liability offense.