PHOENIX — Road debris does warrant a call to 911 -- that is the message that state officials want to get the word out about.
The Governor's Office of Highway Safety, the Maricopa Association of Governments, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Arizona Department of Transportation want to educate the public with the third-annual 'Secure Your Load' day in our state.
FULL SECTION: Operation Safe Roads
According to DPS, there are roughly 1,000 debris-related crashes throughout Arizona each year.
In Maricopa County, there were 12 deaths in the last five years blamed on road debris.
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Here are five things to keep in mind:
- Tie it down: Secure large or heavy items with solid straps, rope, bungee cords or netting. Small string is not strong enough. When you are traveling at 60-70 miles per hour, the wind can exert hundreds of pounds of pressure per square foot on your load, pushing it right off your vehicle.
- Cover it up: Loose items should be firmly covered with a tarp or netting
- Lighter goes lower: Put lighter items below heavier items and evenly distribute the load.
- Don't overload: Keep material level with the truck bed or trailer unless tied down.
- Double check: Ask yourself, is this roadworthy?
The Department of Public Safety says if you see debris on any freeway, it is considered an emergency, and they encourage you to call 911 immediately.