Blowing your lawn trimmings onto the road

[LBrown59]

I live on an old farm along a two lane road and people blow their clippings on the road all the time. Must admit that when I mow along the edge of my property I mow "facing traffic" which blows clippings onto the road. I like to be able to see the traffic coming at me as people drive like maniacs on this road however I stop mowing if traffic is passing by. After saying all that
*I do take the blower and get the debris off the road.

I don't bother because by then the first 1 to 3 cars has already blown it all back of the road into the yard.

 

[RobertN]

If it is light fluffy dry stuff. And there is a breeze.

If it is wet, or just nice green stuff, it does not move easily. Especially if there is a lot of it.

What Dargo described was enough to cover the striped line in the middle of the road. That is a lot. Being a motorcyclist, that can be scary.

And generally, it is courtesy to not blow a bunch of stuff in the road in the first place.

I don't bother because by then the first 1 to 3 cars has already blown it all back of the road into the yard.

 

[LBrown59]

It's been 30 years since I lived in a situation where I'd be mowing right next to a paved road.

I've been mowing right along the same 325 foot stretch of State Highway for 43 years now.

 

[LBrown59]

It's really pretty easy. How about I bag 12 acres of lawn at my place and use a couple of dump trucks to spread it across the road for a half a mile or so in each direction where you live. When you slide off the road, because I created an unsafe condition on the road, I tell you that "I don't really see it as a big issue".

Where did I say anything about 12 bags?

 

[Mike Costello]

What a terrible outcome for that guy! I have about 350' of grass frontage along a gravel road, and when I mow it's always away from the road just to be neat about it. Never thought about the safety considerations until now.
I do see a lot of grass cuttings on all the roads around here--better be more cautious about driving through them. Another problem is the people who mow right along the pavement blindly trusting that anyone pasing by will see them in time and move over. I've seen some close calls there too. Mike.

 

[tallyho8]

Just to show you what a little grass (hay) can do on the road: I was pulling a trailer load of hay across the Lake Ponchartrain Causeway (the longest bridge in the world) going 60 mph and a small square bale of hay fell off even though I thought I had my load well secured. I did not notice it and kept going.

It fell all apart when it hit the road at 60 mph and spread out on the road. A couple cars drove over it with no problem and then one woman freaked out when she saw hay on the road and slammed on her brakes. The car behind her ran into her and a third car ran into the second one. Luckily no one was hurt.

When I got about 20 miles farther down the bridge a cop stopped me and told me what happened and gave me a citation for not securing my load well enough.

The first car had their damages paid for by the insurance of the second car. The second car had their damages paid for by the insurance of the third car and the third car sued me for his damages and my insurance company paid him off.

 

[20 20]

I love ridding my motorcycle and anyone that rides knows we constantly have to look out for everything. When some dork blows ANYTHING into the road it creates an issue. I don't know how many dorks I've gone past to have them blowing crap into my lane. Common sense seems to have just blown away right along with responsibility and grass clippings. If you are blowing crap into the road please stop your lawn is not as important as a life.

 

[HeavyHitch]

20 20, I agree, I don't know how many times I have been on my bike only to round a corner and there is an entire sea of green on the road. I haven't laid it down because I know enough to be prepared when it comes to what's around the corner, but I've seen plenty of the guys on crotch rocktets bite it when they hit that stuff! If you wouldn't blow it on to your own driveway, then why blow it on the road?

 

[Dargo]

I don't bother because by then the first 1 to 3 cars has already blown it all back of the road into the yard.

Nothing personal, but you may very well go to jail. Especially if you express your cavalier attitude towards a law enforcement officer when he is asking you why you created a hazard that caused someone to crash. I assume, based upon your comments, that it wouldn't bother you any if you literally killed someone with your lack of common courtesy and failure to abide by the law? You're on your own here pal. Not one judge in the country is going to see things your way when a prosecutor explains how his/her client was injured/killed due to your gross negligence and you will likely be convicted of involuntary homicide and sent away based on legal precedent. Have a good one. When someone cares that little for their fellow man, I have to agree, they rate the "ignore" button. Buh bye!

 

[czechsonofagun]

I always cut to blow it back to the lawn and if some gets on the road I go over it and the MMM will dispose of it for me. Never thought it could be illegal or trouble , just didn't seem right to leave it there.

Of course drivers on our road thing it is perfectly fine to toss garbage to our ditch. Weekly I pick up 8 or more drink cans and such, once there was a whole birthday cake in a box, the other day two buckets half full of human *****.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I blow the first two passes back into the yard for a different reason then the clippings on the shoulder of the road. I do it so I don't accidentally shoot a stone or a stick at or into a passing car.

 

[sawdust_maker]

Good post. Now that you bring it up, I can see where grass clippings could be bad for motorcyclists in particular.

I try to blow mine back in the yard just because it looks better.

I've always directed mine back onto the lawn because it just makes common sense. Why not let them break down into the lawn to help minimize the amount of fertilizer you might need otherwise?

Or collect the clippings to use as compost, then improving your garden that way?

John

 

[Stargazer]

A few years ago had a guy round the corner at old house about midnite and hit the power pole. Yes the street was completely covered in acorns about 2" thick. Still think the 1/2 case of beer didn't help much. Got away B4 cops got here.

 

[LBrown59]

What a terrible outcome for that guy!1* I have about 350' of grass frontage along a gravel road, and when I mow it's always away from the road just to be neat about it. Never thought about the safety considerations until now.
I do see a lot of grass cuttings on all the roads around here--better be more cautious about driving through them.
2* Another problem is the people who mow right along the pavement blindly trusting that anyone pasing by will see them in time and move over. I've seen some close calls there too. Mike.

1*I only have 110' .
2*I have about 6 inches of slag between my grass and the St.Highway pavement.
This helps 2 ways.
1-Allows me to mow all the yard clear over to the road without getting on the pavement .
2*Greatly reduces clippings on the pavement even tho I mow with the mower chute facing totard the road.

 

[LBrown59]

I always cut to blow it back to the lawn and if some gets on the road
1*I go over it and the MMM will dispose of it for me. 3*Never thought it could be illegal or trouble
5*Of course drivers on our road think it is perfectly fine to toss garbage to our ditch..

1*To dangerous to get out on the road with a tractor or riding mower here.
Puts me right in a blind spot of traffic popping over a hill at 60 MPH or better .
3*I ain't seen nothing saying it was.
5*I get Ya I ain't sposta get a blade of grass on yer little old road but it's ok fer ya to use my front yard fer a land fill

 

[LBrown59]

A few years ago had a guy round the corner at old house about midnite and hit the power pole. Yes the street was completely covered in acorns about 2" thick. Still think the 1/2 case of beer didn't help much. Got away B4 cops got here.

Something sounds corney about this story to me.

 

[RobertN]

Missed the point. He didn't throw beer/soda cans out; OTHER people did that.

On the point of the thread, it is one thing to blow things out on the road while mowing; sometimes it is hard not too. To leave a mess, though, especially if it is a lot of material, is the issue.

The other issue, is the mow and blow folks that just blow stuff out in the streets. That is wrong and unprofessional. It is quick and easy, but not right.

If you make a mess, clean it up. Especially if you make a big mess.

1 - it makes your property look nicer as a whole
2 - It is pride in ownership
3 - It is a courtesy to others who use the road.
4 - Do your best. Ya, I'm a Scout leader... Is your best to leave a mess on the road?

I mean, honestly, if you have just a few dry clippings, it probably will blow to the side anyways before you even get off the mower. If you have more than that, then tidy up.

5*I get Ya I ain't sposta get a blade of grass on yer little old road but it's ok fer ya to use my front yard fer a land fill

 

[RobertN]

Right. You never know what you'll hit.

30 years ago, my Dad was mowing our front yard(suburban lot). My Uncle and I were sitting on the porch. All of the sudden, we hear a whistle and a WHACK!

Don't know where it came from, but the mower blade picked up and threw a dart board kind of dart. We figure it went less than 2" over my uncles head. Buried in to the front door.

We have no idea where that dart came from; we did not have darts. But it wound up there in the lawn, near the curb. And then buried in our front door.

Another consideration, on top of just grass that may end up on the road.

I blow the first two passes back into the yard for a different reason then the clippings on the shoulder of the road. I do it so I don't accidentally shoot a stone or a stick at or into a passing car.

 

[Dargo]

If you make a mess, clean it up. Especially if you make a big mess.

1 - it makes your property look nicer as a whole
2 - It is pride in ownership
3 - It is a courtesy to others who use the road.
4 - Do your best. Ya, I'm a Scout leader... Is your best to leave a mess on the road?

I mean, honestly, if you have just a few dry clippings, it probably will blow to the side anyways before you even get off the mower. If you have more than that, then tidy up.

I didn't see the posts because I now have someone on my "ignore list", but you made a nice tidy summary of what has been on our local news since this terrible accident caused by what is now being called "gross negligence" by a homeowner. Every personal injury attorney within a hundred miles are salivating to get this case. Pretty well as RobertN summed up, a little common sense goes a long way. I have to assume the laws and potentially extremely stiff penalties are in place because of the extremely severe penalties that can be suffered by innocent people due to a few who just plain don't give a hoot and figure once something has been moved from their yard to the roadway, it is no longer their problem.

The officer interviewed was even asked if his department has seen an increase in calls about this type of violation and safety hazard since the accident. His answer was a simple "No.". I think that demonstrates that most people adhere to what RobertN described and it's a non-issue.

 

[brin]

I agree with you..when the countie comes by to mow the right of ways here grass clippings get on the road and when I mow the right of way in between the county coming I mow facing oncoming traffic and if someone is coming I stop until they have passed. Personally I think this is much to do about nothing...Hey, we are talking grass clippings here unless someone is cutting 3 foot tall grass and dumping that into the street and completely covering it , I just don't see a problem. As with everything you just have to be careful to watch on coming traffic and stop when a car passes, but in rural areas ...sorry I don't see a problem but then I am a just a country boy. LOL