Freeway, Highway, Tollway, Debris-way!

[kentauros]

In recent years I have come to the conclusion that Houston, with all its hundreds of miles of free-/high-/toll-ways that they really should all be reclassified for what they truly are: Debris-ways!

Too many people don't seem to understand the concept of tying things down, or even that some loads simply should not be driven at "high" speeds. Oh, and though I can't always tell why someone has been pulled over, the police presence on these roads is severely lacking around here to begin with. Things continue to fall off trucks and trailers, Houston drivers continue to just run over everything and never attempt to move it to the side of the road, even when they have to come to a stop to "run over it" and all that trash piles up along the roadway.

When I was married, my Canadian wife was appalled at how trashy things were in this country. Why do so many care so little for the land they live in? And especially the roads they drive; don't they understand that debris will scratch their precious paint and entangle their spinners? ;)

So, does anyone else have such problems with the roadways in their part of the US? (I know Canada doesn't have this problem...)

[Droopy]

1. Not so much in Ohio

It's more like people just throwing out cans, plastic bottles, fast food wrappers, and cigarettes. You hardly notice it when you are driving down the road. But I had a flat one time and I was there on the shoulder of the highway fixing it and I noticed it then. More cigarette butts than anything. It's incredible how many there are when you consider that I was just looking at one little spot in the road.

[kentauros]

2. I believe a woman in Denton was prosecuted for flinging a lit cig butt out her car

during a major drought. I only wish they'd consider it some form of arson. Years ago I attempted to change the fuel filter in a VW wagon I owned then. I couldn't get it right and had to drive it over to the shop with the hose leaking. My biggest fear was some idiot flicking their still lit cigarette out the window in front of me.

I've also read that all those butts are a kind of environmental pollution. The fibers don't break down, birds pick them up for nests and they continue to persist in the environment. People don't notice them, though, because after a while they do "blend in". Still, it's trash and I just don't get this lack of care for the land.

I remember honking at a woman that tossed her water bottle out her window only to get flipped off for getting mad because of a partially filled bottle hitting my car. WTF? Perhaps it's not much of a problem when you're in a big rig, but in a little car, it can be damaging and cause you to swerve. Plus, I've seen metal debris on the roads here that could take you out. Like an 8"x1" bolt bouncing along at 65+. For me it happened to bounce right in front of my car and went over it, but I was still concerned for those behind me. I never saw any accidents, but it could have been bad.

If I had a desire to be a police officer, I would volunteer, willingly, for freeway duty and ticket every one of the litterbugs. I'd also prefer a hefty fine that is the same across the board. $10 isn't worth any officer's time.