Secure Your Load: Prevent Litter and Accidents on the Road

Did you know that an estimated ONE BILLION pieces of litter on U.S. roadways result from unsecured loads of trash and debris falling from moving vehicles? That’s according to the Keep America Beautiful 2020 National Litter Study.

“While it is challenging to pinpoint the precise source of litter, our research suggests the aforementioned figure is a conservative estimate,” explains David Scott, PhD, Senior Vice President of Impact and Analytics at Keep America Beautiful.  

Whether intentional or unintentional, items that fall from vehicles are harmful to the environment and dangerous to nearby drivers. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) reveal that an average of 730 people are killed and 17,000 more are injured each year because of objects in the road. Most of these crashes (81%) involve unsecured loads on passenger vehicles.

“This year marks 20 years since my daughter Maria was critically injured by an unsecured load while driving to work,” said Robin Abel, founder of Secure Your Load.

In 2004, Abel’s daughter was nearly killed when a heavy object crashed through her windshield. 

“That event changed our lives forever,” emphasizes Abel. 

Determined to prevent such incidents from happening to others, Abel created the Secure Your Load safety campaign. Launched in 2016, the campaign aims to encourage every U.S. state to educate its citizens on the laws and proper methods for securing loads.

Through Abel’s efforts, June 6th is nationally recognized every year as Secure Your Load Day. It’s a day to remember those injured or killed due to unsecured loads and to raise public awareness of the issue. So, join Keep America Beautiful as we encourage everyone to properly secure their loads, creating cleaner, greener, and safer roadways across America.

About Keep America Beautiful®:

Keep America Beautiful®, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful® strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling, and Beautify America’s Communities. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green, and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision. The organization is driven by the work and passion of 700 Keep America Beautiful® affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

McCall Vrydaghs

Keep America Beautiful®

communications@kab.org