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Road debris is a common cause of dangerous roadway accidents requiring collision repair. If you’ve ever had to swerve out of the way of something on the road or have run over something, then you know how scary it can be. Learn what you need to know below about the dangers of debris, how you can prevent creating debris, and how to drive safely around anything in the road.

Collision Repair Guide: What to Know About Road Debris

1. It’s Dangerous!

A collision repair and safety study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that over the course of three years, road debris caused more than 200,000 police-reported accidents. This caused approximately 500 deaths and 39,000 injuries. Meanwhile, about 37 percent of those deaths were caused when a driver swerved to avoid debris in the road.

2. Where It Comes From

collision repairThe same study found that most of the debris behind those reported accidents was from items falling out of a vehicle. You can avoid creating debris by properly securing any loads you haul with heavy-duty ratchet straps and a cargo net or tarp to keep smaller items from flying out. Drivers should also keep their vehicles properly maintained, especially the tires and the brakes. Accidents from poorly maintained tires and brakes are another common way that debris is created.

3. How to Drive Safely  

Always keep your eyes on the road in front of you, so you’re aware of anything in the road for 10 to 15 seconds ahead of you. Try to keep an empty space on at least one side of your vehicle as you drive, so you know you can safely swerve out of the way if it’s necessary. Check your blind spot before steering around something, and if you cannot safely move over then safely slow down as much as possible before hitting the item.

 

If you do get into an accident due to road debris, take your car into Tracy’s Collision Center in Lincoln, NE. They have served the community with quick and high-performance collision repair for almost 50 years. To better serve you, their auto body shop is certified by Honda ProFirst, I-CAR Gold Glass, FCA, and Assured Performance. Contact their body shop online or at (402) 441-4820 to request a collision estimate today!

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