You may think it's just a harmless eyesore, but did you know that leaving grass clippings and leaves in the road can make for serious safety hazards? If you drive a car or truck, you probably have never even thought about this, but if you're a motorcyclist and have ever driven down a highway that had freshly cut grass covering it, you know that you could be limiting your bike's traction tremendously. And, when you do that, the more likely it is to fall victim to a injury-causing or even fatal wipeout.
Well, Kentucky state senator C.B. Embry Jr. (R -- Morgantown) has thought about the safety issues caused by grass clippings and is working to amend Kentucky's criminal littering law, in a way that would effectively make it illegal t0 leave clippings on highways.
Per WKYT:
Richmond police responded to a crash in June where a man was taken to a Lexington hospital because of injuries suffered when riding over mowed grass.
"There's a lot of people out there that don't do it intentionally," Richmond Police Assistant Chief Rodney Richardson said. "It rains quite often and they blow their grass off their yard into the roadway. I don't think they intend to cause an accident but they need to be aware of the dangers it can cause."
Rep. Regina Huff, R - Williamsburg, has prefiled the same amendment in the Kentucky House.
If you're a biker living in Kentucky, you know this proposed amendment is definitely a step in the right direction. But, if you're a Kentucky resident who lets your mowed grass clippings fall where they may, you'll probably want to start bringing a couple of garbage bags with you for that next mowing session.