When you drive in and around Orlando, you undoubtedly spot dozens of hardware and home improvement stores. While these stores make it easy for Floridians to tackle do-it-yourself projects, they may also tempt drivers to haul lumber and other items in an unsafe way.
Before leaving a big-box hardware store, customers must take steps to ensure the items they have purchased stay put inside their vehicles. Regrettably, even if you drive responsibly, someone else’s unsecured or improperly secured cargo may put your life in jeopardy.
Collisions with flying objects
When you are traveling at highway speeds, a dislodged board, pipe or appliance may smash through your windshield. If this happens, you are at risk of suffering an impaling injury. Even if the object misses you and your passengers, the impact may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
Collisions with road debris
If lumber or anything else falls out of a vehicle or off a truck, it may land in the roadway. Naturally, it is not always possible to spot road debris early enough to maneuver around it. If you collide with something on the road, you may not be able to maintain control over your car. Vehicle damage from the collision may also cause you to wreck.
Collisions with oversized cargo
You do not only have to worry about unsecured cargo when you drive. If a motorist hauls oversized items in an unsafe way, you may inadvertently collide with a large object. Consequently, drivers who haul oversized loads must make their cargo visible by affixing a flag. They must also ensure other drivers can maneuver around their cargo safely.
