Robin Abel got the phone call that no parent wants to receive. Her daughter, Maria, was critically injured in an automobile crash in which she hit an object that had fallen off another vehicle.
Things looked dire, and Abel was prepared to donate her daughter's organs. Miraculously, Maria lived. Since that day 12 years ago, Abel has been talking to anybody who'd listen about the dangers posed by items falling from moving vehicles. She got the ear of the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the State Patrol, which declared last Monday Secure Your Load Day.
"This is a special day," said Abel, of suburban Seattle. "Some people say it [what happened to Maria] was a freak accident, but it is a frequent problem. To see that somebody is taking this seriously did my heart good. I hope it will inspire others to do the same."
She also hopes it will inspire all drivers to take time to tie down their loads.
A report from the Government Accountability Office found that there are 51,000 incidents involving unsecured loads in the United States each year, killing 440 people and injuring 10,000.
Already this year in Minnesota, the State Patrol has been called 2,479 times to remove everything from ladders, mattresses and even full-sized plastic playhouses from roadways in the metro area. Statewide, the patrol has had more than 5,000 calls. In the past five years troopers have issued 1,673 unsecured load citations to passenger vehicle drivers and 9,331 warnings.
Danger no matter how small
Minnesota law says all loads must be secured so as not to shift, blow off or come loose, but it does not specify how a load has to be secured. Drivers can use anything from twine and rope to bungee cords or the highly recommended ratchet straps.
"We've actually had to take people to Wal-Mart and tell them to get some straps," said Lt. Tiffani Nielson. "It's a nominal cost to prevent big issues for you. … Take five minutes and strap it down."
