EAST TEXAS – Although the summer season is waning to give way to cooler temperatures, indicative of an early fall, there are still a few mowings left for most East Texan yards. One consideration that chore entails is what one must do with all those grass clippings.
On some roadways, those clippings wind up in the road itself, something that can be potentially deadly for motorcyclists, but can also result in a ticket.
State law prohibits the discharge of cut grass into a roadway, under the state’s littering law (Texas Health and Safety Code 365.012), which prohibits yard waste from being placed on roadways.
The practice, according to statute, creates safety hazards for drivers, and also clogs storm drains and causes flooding. Violators can face fines, and if those actions lead to an accident, they can be held liable for the resulting damages. The offense is classified as a Class C misdemeanor, potentially leading to fines up to $500 for offenders, however, municipalities can also enact ordinances with similar more severe penalties.
According to George Farah of the Farah Law Firm, simple practices regarding grass clippings can help boost road safety.
“Properly disposing of yard waste by using a bagging mower or creating compost piles will help ensure this debris does not end up becoming a road hazard. These small steps show how responsible a homeowner is and can make significant differences in preventing motorcycle accidents,” Farah stated in an article on the topic.
Inside city limits, the grass clippings on the road is not much of an issue, but for those on rural roads, it could be a big problem.
Grass clippings, when wet, can make a blacktop road similar to a sheet of ice for a motorcyclist and reduce traction, which can cause a serious crash, and result in serious, even fatal, injuries.
Solutions such as bags on lawnmowers or biodegradable bags, which can repurpose the clippings for composting, can prevent the issue of clippings on the roadway for landscapers and homeowners.
Although no statistics are readily available for the number of fatal and/or serious motorcycle accidents caused by grass clippings in the state of Texas, one incident, in 2019, in Illinois, was caused by clippings in the road, and resulted in the death of a motorcyclist.
According to reports, 59-year-old Cheryl Zeglen, was riding with her husband and other motorcyclists, when she and the group came upon grass clippings on the road, and began to lose control. Zeglen died from her injuries, and the incident resulted in proposed legislation to enact greater penalties for grass clippings on the road greater than what was then levied under that state’s Litter Control Act.
Anywhere that motorcyclists ride, however, where many road hazards might seem minor for cars and trucks, they can be catastrophic to motorcyclists, according to Farah.
“If you add adverse weather to the equation, it only increases the risks by cutting the visibility of drivers and reducing the tires’ grip on the road. High winds can push a motorcycle all over the road and make avoiding hazardous road conditions even more difficult,” he noted.
Tips for motorcyclists to stay safe on the road:
