Follow these tips from Caltrans and the California Office of Traffic Safety to keep our communities litter-free this Labor Day weekend

By Caltrans Director Tony Tavares

Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest times of the year as people drive to major leisure destinations to celebrate with friends and family. But with the increase in travel comes more trash on the highways. Not only is trash unsightly and unhealthy, it can also create unsafe driving conditions and endanger lives.

Trash and garbage on our roads cause drivers to suddenly swerve or brake to avoid these obstacles, increasing the risk of serious accidents or other traffic incidents. Trash discarded by vehicles can also harm native wildlife, which could eat the trash or become entangled in the harmful garbage. That’s why the Caltrans Clean California Initiative, in partnership with the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), is offering Californians the following travel tips to keep our roads clean and safe this Labor Day weekend:

• Keep a garbage bag in your vehicle: Choose to be a “garbage collector” rather than a “garbage eater” by keeping a bag for garbage in your car and disposing of its contents properly at your destination. This will reduce disruptive garbage on the road and keep your car and our natural environment cleaner. You can also reuse the bag for future trips.

• Secure your load and keep a safe distance: When transporting items in the back of a truck – such as a cooler, chairs or luggage – make sure they are tied down and secured so they don’t fall onto the road. Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you so you have enough time to stop safely if you need to suddenly accelerate or brake.

• Recycle: Separate recyclables from the garbage in your car and dispose of them in the appropriate recycling containers at your destination, at a rest area or when you return home.

• Do not throw cigarette butts out of the window: Hot and dry summer conditions put California at high risk for wildfires. Cigarette butts only increase the fire danger because they can ignite wildfires and encourage them to spread. Do your part by properly disposing of all butts in the appropriate trash cans.

• Report illegal waste disposal: If you see someone dumping or disposing of garbage on public or private property, provide the appropriate street details and report the crime to local authorities. Violators can be fined up to $10,000. If you are driving, park in a safe location and report the violation, or have a passenger call.

Let’s keep our community clean this Labor Day weekend! Remember, zero litter is the goal! For more information on how to stay safe and litter-free while you’re out and about, visit CleanCA.com and GoSafelyCA.org.