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Road debris

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Debris inGalway, Irelandaccumulating on acycle lane

Road debris,a form of road hazard, isdebrison oroffaroad.Road debris includes substances, materials, and objects that are foreign to the normal roadway environment. Debris may be produced byvehicularor non-vehicular sources, but in all cases it is consideredlitter,a form of solid waste.[1]Debris may tend to collect in areas where vehicles do not drive, such as on theedges (shoulder),aroundtraffic islands,and junctions.

Road spray[2]ortire kickupis road debris (usually liquid water) that has been kicked up, pushed out, or sprayed out from atire.In 2004, aAAA Foundation for Traffic Safetystudy revealed that vehicle-related road debris caused 25,000 accidents and nearly 100 deaths a year.

Waste in Amol - Behind of Haraz Road (Road 77) (Iran)

Causes[edit]

Road debris can be caused by various factors, including objects falling off vehicles ornatural disastersand weather, specifically wind, storms,tornadoes,hurricanes,etc.[3]

Examples[edit]

Plant seeds on a road,dispersedby a fast-moving car.
Garbage and waste dumped by a road inTalisay, Cebu.Extreme form of roadside litter containing all sorts of waste materials: plastic, metal, glass, paper, cardboard andbiowaste

Examples of road debris include:

Effects[edit]

Road surface[edit]

Road debris is ahazard[5]that can causeloss of vehicle controlwith damages ranging from aflat tire,vehicular rollover, penetration of the passenger compartment by the debris,[1][7]orcollision,with accompanying injuries or deaths. In the year 2011, theNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration'sTraffic Safety Factsfound that more than 800 persons were killed across America by "non-fixed objects" (a term that includes roadway debris).Californiahad the highest number of total deaths for any state, whileNew Mexicohad the greatest probability for death from a vehicle-debris crash in that year.[8]

In 2004, aAAA Foundation for Traffic Safetystudy revealed that vehicle-related road debris caused 25,000 accidents—and nearly 100 deaths—each year.[1][7]At highway speeds, even small debris can be deadly.[1]On June 16, 1925, in the United States, a passenger train carrying German and American tourists from Chicago, Illinois to Hoboken, New Jersey struck debris washed into a road crossing and derailed during a heavy thunderstorm.[9] Collision with road debris resulted in a solar vehicle accident at theWorld Solar Challenge 2007in Australia.

Road debris tends to collect in areas where two-track vehicles such as cars and buses do not drive. In urban areas, this tends to be on theedges (shoulder)and on the crown of the road, and debris frequently collects aroundtraffic islandsand junctions. In rural areas, debris collects in the middle of the lane and on the outside of corners and bends.[10]Road debris can be especially dangerous tobicyclists,who may have to travel outside thecycle laneand into traffic to avoid debris.

Flooding can also occur ifstorm drainsandstreet guttersare not kept clear of road debris and litter. Large quantities of water are sometimes thrown up from the road (road spray) by large vehicles, creating visibility problems for the drivers of oncoming, nearby, or following vehicles. Following vehicles may reduce the problem by slowing and increasing thefollowing/separation distance.Headlights(orfog lights) improve vehicle visibility for all drivers, including those dealing with the spray. Driving manuals advise against following vehicles too closely (tailgating) in these hazardous conditions.[2]Road spray can cause reducedvisibilityand dramatically reduce the safety of motorists.[11]Over time, road spray and gunk from [a bicycle's] brake pads coat the rim of the wheel, interfering with braking power.[12]

Inmotorsportracing, road debris can cause loss of traction and subsequent crashes. Usually, the yellowcaution flagis used to indicate a track hazard, and thepace/safety carwill come out.

Road debris can also cause other more specific problems and damage to vehicles. Rocks striking thecatalytic convertercan cause the internal mat to break and clog the converter.[13]Severalrecallshave occurred due to road debris. The 2005Scion TC'swind deflectorwas recalled because of potential shatter from road debris impact.[14]The 2004Mitsubishi Endeavorwas recalled in February 2010 when it was determined that a mixture ofroad saltand road debris (mud) might be trapped between a reinforcing bracket and thefuel filler pipe,causing corrosion.[15]The 2001Chevrolet C/Kchassis cab truck was also recalled on discovery that road debris could strike and damage itspressure relief valves.[16]

Environmental[edit]

Small debris particles and dust (primarily from tire wear and vehicleexhaustparticulates) constitute a significant problem when they are washed into the soil and leak intogroundwaterreservoirs throughsurface runoff,especiallyurban runoff.Roadsidesoilandwater contaminationcan result when the concentration of harmful constituents is high enough. The greater thesurface areaofsynthetic rubberwastefragments, the greater the potential for breakdown into harmful constituents. Forleachedtire debris, the potentialenvironmental impactof the ingredientszincand organictoxicantshas been demonstrated.[17]

Additionally, debris from lawns in local communities can flush into local waterways. There are currently some laws against blowing organic matter such as grass clippings into the roadway because of their potential toxic effect on the local waterways. Grass being high in nitrogen, which can accumulate in waterways and causealgae blooms.[18]An example of such laws can be seen in the City of Davenport, Iowa's Clean Air and Water Act.[19]

Prevention[edit]

Acar bracan help reduce damage from minor road debris. Road spray is lessened onstone mastic asphaltandopen-graded asphalt[11]and can be further reduced withfenders[20](more so on a bicycle since most motor vehicles tend to already have fenders) and/ormud flaps.Street sweepersandwinter service vehiclesremove most solid road debris and theAdopt a Highwayprogram also helps.Road signsandvariable-message signsmay warn drivers of special situations involving road debris.

TheAmerican Automobile Association(AAA) publishes the following recommendations:[1]

Education[edit]

  • Motor vehicle operators should know and understand how to secure their loads,load securementrequirements,litteringlaws, and penalties for failing to comply with the regulations.
  • Drivers carrying loads should periodically inspect their vehicles and cargo to make sure they remain safe and secure.
  • All drivers should be aware of the surroundings and continuously inspect the road for potential hazards.
  • Drivers should immediately report unsafe vehicles and unsecured loads.

Laws and policy enforcement[edit]

  • Governments should enact and enforcelegislationrequiring loads to be covered, or use anti-littering legislation to penalize offenders.
  • Fines anddemerit pointsfor unsecured loads should be increased.
  • Road debris incidents and crashes should be made anabsolute-liabilityoffense.

Removal and mitigation[edit]

In 1914 St. Louis, Missouri, litter was removed from streets by water wagons, as shown in this drawing byMarguerite Martynof theSt. Louis Post-Dispatch
  • Maintenance organizations should perform regular road inspection and timely removal of debris.
  • Better roadway design provides adequate visibility of stationary objects in the roadway to motorists traveling at highway speeds.
  • Increasing the dispersion ofTraffic conesaround roadway areas.

Popular culture[edit]

Ocean Colour Scene,an English Britpop band, made a song aboutBirmingham, Englandcalled "Debris Road" (reputed to be about the road running past the band's recording studios inLadywood) on theirMarchin' Already1997 album.

Somevideo games(particularlyracing games) include road debris that damages vehicles or obstructs visibility.[21]Spy Hunter(1983) features slippery, icy roads and puddles,oil slicks,andsmoke screens.MotorStorm(2007) depicts air-borne mud that becomes accurately painted onto the body of each vehicle in real-time. Players can use this airborne debris strategically: a chunk of debris may be used to knock opponents off their motorcycles, and mud spatter on the wind-shields might temporarily blind them.[21]Fuel(2009) features "crazy windstorms that kick up leaves and debris."[22]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcde"25,000 Crashes a Year Due to Vehicle-Related Road Debris, AAA Foundation Study Finds".BusinessWire.16 June 2004.Retrieved2 March2018.,AAA Foundation for Traffic Safetypress release of"The Safety Impact of Vehicle-Related Road Debris",Gerry Forbes and John Robinson, June 2004
  2. ^abDriving Standards Agency(28 September 2007).The official DSA theory test for car drivers and the official Highway code.The Stationery Office.ISBN978-0-11-552886-6.
  3. ^abcRoad Safety Tips - Road Debris,American Automobile Association
  4. ^abAny of these can be mixed with liquid water to create "road spray".
  5. ^abc"Highway Debris, Long an Eyesore, Grows as Hazard",The New York Times,Patricia Leigh Brown, May 11, 2007
  6. ^Bishop, Greg (23 September 2019)."Group Warns of Grass Clipping Dangers on Roadways".Alton Daily News.Retrieved8 October2019.
  7. ^ab"Road Debris Can Be Fatal",CBS News'The Early Show,Tatiana Morales, July 13, 2004
  8. ^http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811754AR.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  9. ^"Accidents, fires: Price of littering goes beyond fines".Olympia, Washington:Washington State Department of Ecology.2004-06-01.
  10. ^"Road Debris",British Motorcyclists Federation,Christopher Hodder, June 2007
  11. ^ab"Splash and spray from wet pavements increase safety risks for motorists and are a concern for road authorities.",Australian Asphalt Pavement Association,retrieved 7 March 2010
  12. ^Ken Derry and theBicyclingstaff (December 2007)."30 Days to a Beautiful Bike".Bicycling.Vol. 48, no. 11. p. 63.ISSN0006-2073– viaGoogle Books.
  13. ^"Catalytic Converters",About,Vincent Ciulla, retrieved 2010-2-7
  14. ^"Auto Repair: Motor Vehicle Recalls",About, retrieved 2010-2-7
  15. ^Defects and Recalls,National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA), 24 Feb 2010, retrieved 5 April 2010
  16. ^"Auto Repair: Motor Vehicle Recalls",About, retrieved 2010-2-7
  17. ^Gualtieri, M; Andrioletti, M; Mantecca, P; Vismara, C; Camatini, M (2005)."Impact of tire debris on in vitro and in vivo systems".Particle and Fibre Toxicology.2(1): 1.doi:10.1186/1743-8977-2-1.PMC1079942.PMID15813962.
  18. ^"Nitrogen and Water".usgs.gov.Retrieved2019-10-08.
  19. ^Corporation, CivicLive | © 2019 West."Lawn Maintenance".cityofdavenportiowa.Retrieved2019-10-08.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^'07 Buyer's Guide,Bicycling,April 2007, p. 100
  21. ^abRidin’ Dirty: A new game harnesses the PS3 for serious mudslinging.,Wired15.04, March 2007, retrieved 5 April 2010
  22. ^Fuel Off-Road Video Game Review,Josh Burns, off-road, 1 July 2009

External links[edit]