>>> IT'S A DANGER WE SEE ALMOST
DAILY ON HOUSTON FREEWAYS.
OBJECTS FALLING OFF CARS AND
TRUCKS FLYING TOWARDS YOU AT 60
OR 70 MILES AN HOUR.
ROAD DEBRIS CAN BE DEADLY,
FORCING DRIVERS TO MAKE
DANGEROUS MOVES, EVEN HITTING
CARS HEAD ON IN SOME CASES.
WHAT YOU JUST SAW CAN BE EALSZ
PREVENTED WITH SIMPLE TOOLS AND
A LITTLE EXTRA TIME.
CHANNEL 2 INVESTIGATOR
BILL SPENCER EXPOSES THE
WIDESPREAD ROAD DEBRIS DANGER
AND THE INEXPENSIVE SOLUTION.
.
>> Reporter: IT IS HORRIFYING
VIDEO OF A HIGHWAY NIGHTMARE.
PLAYING OUT RIGHT BEFORE YOUR
EYES.
THIS MATTRESS FLIES OFF A CAR,
DRIVERS SWERVING TO AVOID IT.
THE DRIVER OF THIS TRUCK LOSES
CONTROL, AND IS KILLED.
IT HAPPENS A LOT MORE THAN YOU
THINK.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOIRNTION
DANGEROUS DEBRIS LIKE WOODEN
BOARDS.
>> OH!
>> Reporter: METAL AND GLASS.
>> THERE IT GOING.
>> Reporter: ALL KINDS OF
OBJECTS FALLING OFF OF CARS AND
TRUCKS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
WHEN ONE OF THESE FLYING OBJECTS
COMES OFF THE VEHICLE, HOW FAST
IS THAT GOING?
>> 65, 75 MILES AN HOUR AND IT'S
HEADED STRAIGHT AT YOU.
THAT'S ENOUGH TO KILL SOMEBODY.
>> Reporter: IT HAPPENED TO
TRACY WHITE, A WIFE AND MOTHER
OF THREE FROM BRYAN, TEXAS.
THIS PIECE OF IRON FELL OFF OF A
TRUCK ON HIGHWAY 21 AND CAME
CRASHING RIGHT THROUGH HER
WINDED -- WINDSHIELD.
TRACY WAS KILLED.
NOW MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON
POLICE TRUCK ENFORCEMENT
DIVISION HAVE MADE IT THEIR
MISSION TO FORCE TRUCK DRIVERS
INTO TYING THEIR LOADS DOWN
SAFELY.
THEY CHECK COMMERCIAL TRUCKS,
LOOKING FOR DANGEROUS DEBRIS.
AND TODAY THEY FOUND IT.
>> YOU GOT TO BE OUT OF SERVICE.
>> Reporter: TAKE A LOOK AT THIS
TRANSPORT SUK TRUCK WITH SEVERAL
UNTIED
HEAVY WOODEN PLANKS.
THE DRIVER FORCED TO FIX THEM
IMMEDIATELY.
HOW DANGEROUS ARE THOSE BOARDS
BEING LOOSE ON THIS BIG TRUCK?
>> OH, IT'S 100% -- COULD KILL
SOMEBODY.
>> Reporter: OH, BUT IT'S NOT
JUST BIG TRUCKS.
REMEMBER THIS FLYING MATTRESS?
ALL OF US CREATE DANGER WHEN WE
FAIL TO TIE OUR LOADS DOWN
SAFELY.
>> THAT'S TIGHT.
>> Reporter: TO PROVE IT,
TROOPER RICHARD AND I TIED THIS
MATTRESS TO THE ROOF OF AN SUV
USING TWINE.
VERY SAME THING MANY STORES WILL
GIVE YOU.
>> IN A FEW MINUTES WE'LL KNOW
IF WE TIED THAT MATTRESS
SECURELY OR NOT.
NOW ON A CLOSED-OFF AIRPORT
RETURN WITH THE TROOPER
FOLLOWING ME AND FIVE CAMERAS
ROLLING AT DIFFERENT ANGLES, WE
TAKE OFF.
45, 50.
>> LOAD IS COMING UNSECURED.
THE WIND IS GETTING UP UNDER IT.
>> Reporter: 65 MILES AN HOUR.
65.
AND THERE THERE IT IS.
AT 65 MILES AN HOUR, IT'S GONE.
LUCKILY, THE TROOPER KNOWS
EXACTLY HOW TO AVOID IT.
JUST MISSED THE TROOPER BEHIND
US.
JUST HOW COULD WE HAVE PREVENTED
THIS?
BY USING A $10 TOOL CALLED A
RATCHET STRAP.
>> IT HAS HEAVY GAUGE STEEL FOR
THE IRON HOOKS.
YOU HOOK ONE SIDE TO THE LUGGAGE
RACK, THE OTHER SIDE TO THE
LUGGAGE RACK.
TAKE THE SLACK OUT AND ALL YOU
HAVE TO DO IS JUST RATCHET.
>> Reporter: LET'S TRY IT THE
SAFE WAY.
NOW WE RETURN IT AGAIN WITH
RATCHET STRAPS.
50 MILES AN HOUR.
STILL GOOD.
70 MILES AN HOUR.
WE'RE STILL GOOD.
75 MILES AN HOUR AND STILL
HOLDING.
IT WORKED.
THE MATTRESS STAYS SECURE.
A CHEAP, INCREDIBLY SIMPLE TOOL
THAT COULD PREVENT THE NEXT
HIGHWAY TRAGEDY.
SO HERE'S THE SIMPLE TOOL.
A SPOOL OF TWINE COST $4.
THIS COSTS BETWEEN 5 AND $10 AND
IT'S INCREDIBLY EASY TO USE.
TAKE THE HOOK, PUT IT UNDERNEATH
YOUR LUGGAGE RACK, SWING IT
AROUND, GIVE IT A GOOD TUG.
IT'S ON THERE SECURE AND THEN
YOU RATCHET IT TIGHT JUST LIKE
THAT.
INCREDIBLY EASY.
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