Debris

I spend an egregious amount of time on the road. As a result, I’ve witnessed a fair amount of stuff on the road. There is all the expected stuff in unexpected places—like roadkill, construction barriers, and shredded tires. There has also been too much unexpected stuff—a shop vac, a recliner chair, and once a Jeep Cherokee on the median between north and southbound traffic upside down and on fire.

A significant amount of the road debris is likely a result of bad assumptions. The driver assumes their item is secure when they check it at a standstill. This assumption underestimates the influence that wind has when traveling at highway speeds.

A midsize pickup was hauling a mattress. The mattress was longer than the bed, and the driver had the front of the mattress resting on the cab. It appeared to have a single rope across the midsection. This poor rope was fighting against this mattress like a cheap belt at the end of a Thanksgiving meal. Eventually, the wind won, and the mattress flipped over the rope and slid into the road.

I was lucky to have the shoulder to swerve into. The Ford Ranger next to me did not share my fortune. His little truck was boxed into the middle lane. He hit his brakes but did not have enough room to stop. I was still slowing, but he was slowing faster until he disappeared completely. When he drove onto the mattress, it flipped a bit and wound tightly around his front left wheel. The truck whipped to an instant stop.

The first truck had a bad day. They lost their mattress. The second truck had a miserable day. They most certainly had significant damage. While accidents happen, a little extra preparation and testing would have avoided the entire event. We can choose our actions, but we cannot choose our consequences.

Can I take the extra steps to ease the journey for those that come behind me? Will I be careful to not have the consequences of my actions become an unearned experience for others? What extra effort can I make so our ride is smoother?

Be curious, be kind, be whole, do good things.