EHS Management

Are Unsecured Loads Putting Your Drivers at Risk?

You know what the main roadway hazards are, right? Distracted, drowsy, or drugged drivers; aggressive drivers; and drivers who are operating late at night pose the highest risk to themselves and others, right? But recent research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has identified a different risk. This risk occurs mainly during the day and has caused more than 200,000 traffic crashes and 500 deaths in the past 4 years.

Another difference: This hazard doesn’t involve unsafe operation of the vehicle—at least, not directly—although it is something operators generally fail to do. Too many drivers are failing to secure their loads and are leaving dangerous debris in the roadway as a result.

The When, Where, and How

Crashes resulting from unsecured loads and roadway debris have a slightly different profile than other types of crashes. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, they tend to take place:

  • On interstate highways. Most fatal crashes take place at highway speed, and the same is true of crashes caused by debris: They are much more likely to occur on interstate highways. The increased speed on an interstate, which increases crash risk, also increases the odds that vehicle parts or poorly secured loads will be jarred loose and fall into the roadway.
  • During daylight hours. Generally, the most dangerous time to be on the road is in the late afternoon or early evening when the roads are most crowded. Another dangerous time to be on the road is between 6:00 p.m. and midnight. For debris-related crashes, however, the daylight hours pose the greatest risk. More than one-third of debris-related crashes occur between 10:00 a.m. and about 4:00 p.m., probably because that’s when the greatest number of people are on the road moving furniture, construction and landscaping materials and equipment, and similar items used in daylight pursuits.
  • When drivers try to avoid them. Many crashes are the result of a failure to avoid hitting something; debris-related crashes result from a driver’s effort to avoid hitting an object in the road. Nearly 37% of fatal crashes related to road debris resulted when the driver swerved to avoid hitting an object.

And the Why

But why is there debris in the road in the first place? Some of it may be blown by wind or washed by rain, but according to the report, about two-thirds of debris-related crashes involve items dropped from a vehicle either because the vehicle was poorly maintained or because the load was improperly secured.

Common roadway debris hazards include:

  • Vehicle parts—tires, wheels, pieces of loose trim, or damaged parts that have not been repaired.
  • Unsecured cargo—tools, furniture, equipment, and other items used to do work.
  • Tow trailers—if these are not properly hitched, they can separate from the towing vehicle on the roadway.

Tomorrow we’ll look at recommendations for preventing these types of crashes.

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