Grass Clippings Left on Road Can Be Deadly for Motorcyclists
As summer approaches, neighborhoods are again introduced to the familiar rumble of running lawn mowers. Mowing the lawn is such a mundane activity that we tend not to think about where our grass clippings end up.
But in reality, paying extra attention to where your cut grass goes can mean the difference between life and death.
Warning: This article contains graphic images that some readers may find disturbing.
For motorcyclists, grass clippings on the road can be as slippery and hazardous as black ice. Runaway clippings get in the way of a motorcycle tire’s traction regardless of whether the grass is wet or dry.
“Especially on curves, that’s how motorcyclists maintain their traction is having that contact patch between the tires and the asphalt, and when you put anything else in between there, it can be hazardous for the motorcyclists,” Howard Porter, a motorcycle rider coach instructor at Shenandoah Harley-Davidson, told WHSV.
Once a motorcycle makes contact with grass clippings, the rider can immediately lose control.
“You are going to go where the grass wants you to go, whether that is off the road into a tree, into a ditch, oncoming car, it doesn’t matter,” David Poovey, a motorcyclist, told WBTV.
Grass clippings blown into the road have been the cause of many serious injuries and, in some cases, death. Poovey himself once sustained injuries when his motorcycle made contact with grass on asphalt.
“It shifted the front end of the bike and slammed the bike over,” said Poovey. “It happens in a split second. If you are in a curve, you can’t stop.”
Poovey isn’t the only motorcyclist who has spoken out about the issue. Many riders and their friends have turned to social media to spread the word about the dangers of leaving grass in the road.
Sherrif Darrin Reed of Gainesville, Missouri, took to Facebook to warn his community about the issue.
“We had a citizen that almost crashed his motorcycle by hitting grass cuttings on the roadway. Please help save a life by not doing this,” Reed wrote.
In some cities, blowing grass into the road doesn’t just harm bikers — it can also do damage to your wallet. According to the York Daily Record, multiple townships have begun charging fines of up to $1,000 for blowing grass into roads. Motorcycle organizations, such as the Concerned Bikers Association of Gaston County, are hoping to make the act illegal everywhere.
Motorcyclist Julie Head wants everyone to be aware that motorcycle safety is just as important as any other type of road safety.
“Whatever we are on, we are moms, grandmas, grandpas, brothers, sisters, moms, dads,” Head told WBTV.
This summer, please be aware of where your grass clippings land by blowing them away from the roadway — doing so could save a motorcyclist’s life.
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