Atlanta Traffic – and everywhere – Please Be Aware

Atlanta Traffic – and everywhere – Please Be Aware

By Danielle F. Jones

I did everything right that day. I buckled up, turned off the radio and had my telephone secure in my purse. I was driving up I-85 North in Atlanta, GA. that sunny afternoon when all of a sudden drywall came crashing down in front of me from a truck in front. As a young driver, I slammed on brakes, but my mom – in the passenger seat – calmly told me “no, you could have caused a chain reaction.”

I was a little shaken, but I kept driving toward our destination in downtown Atlanta, and I asked “What do you do if something falls from a car in front of you?”

She told me to read my Driver’s Education booklet when I got home.

As I read information about road debris I found that unfortunately, according to driving experts (AAA), more than 200,000 accidents, reported to police between 2011-2014, resulted from road debris. Road debris caused 39,000 injuries and 500 deaths. My near-accident happened in 2019, so I’m sure the numbers have increased.

A few things that saved me that day were that I wasn’t tailgating and it was a weekend and not as many cars were on the busy highway.

As I read my Driver’s Education booklet on debris, it said:

*Drivers should search the road ahead at least 12 to 15 seconds for debris (which I didn’t know)

*Don’t tailgate – leave three to four seconds of following distance so you can see potential objects

*If you are about to make contact with debris, reduce your speed as much as possible before making contact (don’t slam on brakes – like I did – especially on a major highway).

*When driving near darker hours, be especially alert for animals (like the deer in my neighborhood)

* Always be aware of open space around your vehicle in case you need to steer toward the open space.

(https://exchange.aaa.com/prevent-road-debris/#.X7wQHWhKiUk)

Driving is a game of responsibility. Not only do you need to be aware of other drivers, you need to be keenly aware of your surroundings and what might potentially happen – and have a game plan.

Since that time the debris fell in front of me, I’ve been driving more frequently. I have had to avoid deer, some crossing turtles and some buzzards that didn’t want to give up the roadkill they were eating. After reading about what to do, I feel like I am a more empowered driver and have recommended to my friends to read about what to do when – because it will happen – debris, or an animal impedes traffic in your neighborhood.

In Atlanta, I have seen couches and clothes and tires and even a baby’s car-seat in the street. Luckily, I was a passenger in those instances. But it is always good to know the rules of the road. All I could do was shake my head and wonder – HOW do you get a couch off Interstate 285. I pray daily for our Highway Safety employees who probably have to remove the debris. God bless them one and all.