From aggressive drivers to vehicle breakdowns, there are plenty of hazards that can create a potential danger when you’re behind the wheel. Road debris is an issue you may not have given much thought to, but it can be a real problem. Knowing how to deal with this can help you avoid becoming a statistic and can also make you a safer driver.
Road Debris Statistics
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 3,696 fatal passenger car crashes in 2020 involving collisions with non-fixed objects on the roads. As an example of how this impacts individual states, Arizona had 1,075 accidents and seven fatalities in 2020 due to road debris.
Many of these road debris collisions come from unsecured loads. Another state-level example comes from Washington State, which had 154 collisions caused by unsecured vehicle loads in 2019. Utah's statistics are even grimmer, as there were 1,800 crashes from unsecured loads in 2020 that caused 10 deaths.
Tips for Handling Road Debris
There is a wide range of unexpected hazards you may find during your daily travels, from a tree branch to a tire to furniture that's fallen off the back of a truck. Unfortunately, coming into contact with road debris can damage your vehicle and may even cause an accident. Here are a few things you can do to safely navigate this situation.
1. Stay Alert
Distracted driving can be dangerous in the best of circumstances, but when there’s an unexpected piece of debris in the road, it can quickly turn catastrophic. When you’re driving, stay off your phone and remain alert so you can see debris as far ahead as possible. Try to continually scan the road without losing focus. This will help you identify things on the road and quickly come up with a plan to deal with them.
2. Avoid Tailgating
If you’re following the vehicle in front of you too closely, you increase the chances of getting into an accident. Not only could debris come off the vehicle and hit you, but if the car in front of you swerves or slams on its brakes to avoid debris, you may not have time to react.
Keeping a safe distance ensures you can come to a full stop without rear-ending the vehicle in front of you. As a general rule, maintain at least a three- to four-second following distance whenever possible.
3. Watch Your Speed
Traveling at high speeds can be dangerous. If you’re speeding and you come across a piece of debris in the road, you’re more likely to hit it or lose control if you swerve to miss it. Remember that posted speed limits are there to keep everyone on the roads safe.
4. Avoid Running Over the Object
Whenever possible, try to avoid running over road debris, as this can create a greater hazard than trying to avoid it. Even something as seemingly harmless as a block of Styrofoam can lodge itself in the wheel well of a vehicle, causing it to stop. If your vehicle becomes non-functional, this can lead to a collision.
5. Be Calm, Patient, and Courteous
When it comes to avoiding road debris, the worst thing you can do is panic. A lapse in judgment or a bad decision can quickly turn into a dangerous situation. Instead, remain calm, patient, and courteous to other drivers as they deal with the situation.
Remember that slamming on your brakes or making a sharp turn of the steering wheel can cause you to lose control. This can also cause the driver behind you to panic, potentially leading to a multi-vehicle incident.
Keep Learning Valuable Driving Skills
Safely dealing with road debris is just one of the many skills you’ll learn as you prepare to get your driver’s license. I Drive Safely's online defensive driving courses are a quick, easy, and fun way to refresh on the rules of the road. Set yourself up for success by taking a look at our course offerings today.
Updated 5/1/23
