Is Your Mail Box a Risk to Motorists?
Every year people are killed in automobile accidents that also involve a mail box. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering the boxes’ proximity to the road, yet most people don’t really associate the box with road danger. In fact, the construction of some box holders is so solid that they are nearly indestructible. This is a step often taken specifically because of the number of connections between the boxes and automobiles. While it can save the homeowner a lot of money in replacement costs, it can also be the reason for collisions that result in injuries or casualties. The danger is real for both the driver and the occupants.Click here for access to safe and sturdy boxes.
An Unexpected Danger Lurking on Rural Roads
These boxes are important to rural and suburban homeowners all across the country. While suburban homeowners often have to abide by strict regulations, some rural residents enjoy a bit of latitude or maybe the regulations are just harder to interpret and enforce. For example, determining exactly where the yard ends and the street begins can be harder in the country than it is in a neighborhood. This can leave sturdy mail supports a little bit too far out in the street or maybe taller or shorter than expected. In many cases, it’s that sense of expectation that leads to injuries. Any unexpected creativity in the design can lead to the potential for safety risks.
Local and National Regulations
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has published a guide to be used in determining where and how to set up boxes on the highway. The postal service has their own regulations to be used when the boxes are set up. If you’re living in a rural home with an older box, you may want to review those regulations or visit with the local postal office to find out whether you need to make changes. If you have a box that is heavier than the standard option, you could be putting motorists at risk, especially if they are traveling down a dark road without good visibility.
What You Can Do
What can you do when you discover that your box poses a hazard? Of course, the obvious answer is to replace the box. At this point, you’ll have to determine whether to build a cheap box or a sturdier model. You might think that purchasing a cheap model is an easy answer to maintaining safety, but if the box is unstable on its supports, it could still become a projectile hazard if a car or truck were to clip it going many miles per hour. The answer is to only use a mail box that has been approved by the Postmaster. Work with a manufacturer of sturdy, high quality boxes and support systems to be sure of the quality of your structure. Make sure that your box has been installed far enough away from traffic, but clearly recognizable as a mail structure. Take time to ensure that the box won’t come loose from the support if it is hit by an automobile. Finally, visit with the Postmaster again to be sure that the job has been completely correctly.
An Unexpected Danger Lurking on Rural Roads
These boxes are important to rural and suburban homeowners all across the country. While suburban homeowners often have to abide by strict regulations, some rural residents enjoy a bit of latitude or maybe the regulations are just harder to interpret and enforce. For example, determining exactly where the yard ends and the street begins can be harder in the country than it is in a neighborhood. This can leave sturdy mail supports a little bit too far out in the street or maybe taller or shorter than expected. In many cases, it’s that sense of expectation that leads to injuries. Any unexpected creativity in the design can lead to the potential for safety risks.
Local and National Regulations
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has published a guide to be used in determining where and how to set up boxes on the highway. The postal service has their own regulations to be used when the boxes are set up. If you’re living in a rural home with an older box, you may want to review those regulations or visit with the local postal office to find out whether you need to make changes. If you have a box that is heavier than the standard option, you could be putting motorists at risk, especially if they are traveling down a dark road without good visibility.
What You Can Do
What can you do when you discover that your box poses a hazard? Of course, the obvious answer is to replace the box. At this point, you’ll have to determine whether to build a cheap box or a sturdier model. You might think that purchasing a cheap model is an easy answer to maintaining safety, but if the box is unstable on its supports, it could still become a projectile hazard if a car or truck were to clip it going many miles per hour. The answer is to only use a mail box that has been approved by the Postmaster. Work with a manufacturer of sturdy, high quality boxes and support systems to be sure of the quality of your structure. Make sure that your box has been installed far enough away from traffic, but clearly recognizable as a mail structure. Take time to ensure that the box won’t come loose from the support if it is hit by an automobile. Finally, visit with the Postmaster again to be sure that the job has been completely correctly.
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