Tip of the Week For the Week of January 27, 2025 Tie it Down Thinking of making that annual or semi-annual trip to the dump? Ridding your home of trash and items to be recycled is a great way to keep it a healthy, safe, and clutter-free place. Remember that we also want to keep our environment and fellow motorists healthy and safe. Before making that dump run or hauling other loads, take a moment to inspect your cargo. Are there any light, loose items that can scatter and become debris or pollution along the roadway? Or are there any items that may fall out and cause another drive to swerve or crash? The National Sheriffs' Association Traffic Safety Committee is working to raise awareness of the problem with unsecured loads. Research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that road debris played a role in more than 50,000 crashes each year in a four-year period. These resulted in over 9,800 injuries and approximately 125 deaths. To be secured, loads should be: • Tied down with rope, netting or straps • Tied directly to the vehicle or trailer • Covered entirely with a sturdy tarp or netting • NOT overloaded • Packed with lighter weight items at the bottom and evenly distributed to prevent them from sliding.