When cargo or a vehicle part dislodges from a moving vehicle and falls onto the road, it becomes a serious hazard for road users. Even a small item may be dangerous when it is discharged at highway speed prompting erratic avoidance manoeuvres, and causing a crash. Vehicle-related road debris (VRRD) is material — vehicle parts or cargo — that has been unintentionally discharged from a vehicle onto the roadway. This study examines the safety impact of VRRD on North American roads. The objectives of the study are to determine the scope and magnitude of the VRRD safety problem — that is, the frequency and severity of VRRD crashes — and to identify potential countermeasures to reduce VRRD, the incidence of crashes, and/or to reduce VRRD crash severity. The study’s methods included a critical review of the literature, identification and analysis of available crash data, and a survey of current state and provincial practices for preventing and removing VRRD. (Author/publisher)
Abstract