Thanksgiving has passed and the Christmas season is in full effect. Parents with children in tow are searching for a real Christmas tree. Now that you have found the perfect tree, transporting it to your home can be problematic.
According to AAA, an estimated 20 million Americans who purchased a real Christmas tree in the last three years did not properly secure it to their vehicle, risking serious vehicle damage and dangerous road debris. In addition to vehicle damage, Christmas trees that are not properly secured are a safety hazard for other motorists. AAA urges all drivers to transport their Christmas trees safely this holiday season.
“When not secured properly, a Christmas tree can easily become hazardous road debris,” said Matt Nasworthy, Florida Public Affairs Director, AAA - The Auto Club Group. “This puts your safety and the safety of everyone else on the road at risk.”
And according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, road debris – which could include objects like improperly secured Christmas trees that fly off cars, landing on the road or on other cars – was responsible for more than 200,000 crashes that resulted in 39,000 injuries and 500 deaths over the past four years. And, about two-thirds of debris-related crashes are the result of improperly secured items falling from a vehicle.
Fortunately, Christmas trees can be safely transported by taking the following steps:
Drivers can face hefty fines and penalties as well as jail time if an unsecured tree falls off their vehicle. Currently, every state has laws that make it illegal for items to fall from a vehicle while on the road. Most states’ penalties result in fines ranging from $10 and $5,000, with at least 16 states listing jail as a possible punishment for offenders. Drivers can prevent injuries and avoid penalties by properly securing their loads to prevent items from falling off the vehicle.
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