“This is a safety, environmental, economic, and aesthetic issue that is 100 percent preventable,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “We spent more than $67 million last year picking up litter and debris.
A load is secure when nothing can slide, shift, fall, or sift onto the roadway. Here are some tips on properly securing a load:
Tie it down. Large or heavy items should be secured with solid straps, rope, bungee cords, or netting. Make sure your tie-down materials are appropriate for the weight they are securing and can withstand highway speeds.
Don’t dispose of litter in pick-up beds. Litter in pick-up beds can fly out when the vehicle reaches highway speed. Dispose of litter properly.
Re-check your load. Loads can shift and settle during a trip. If safe to do so, re-check your load during your trip. Tighten straps that may have loosened and adjust your load if necessary.
Litter and debris can clog stormwater drains and may end up in waterways. Caltrans’ Protect Every Drop campaign educates Californians about the sources and pathways of stormwater pollution, and to change behaviors of the public to reduce stormwater pollution in and around the state highway system. Search #ProtectEveryDrop on Twitter or go to www.protecteverydrop.com for more information.