Highway debris represents a traffic safety problem that requires a prompt response from state or local transportation agencies. The most common practice for debris removal currently is for agency personnel to leave their vehicles and remove the debris by hand in the case of large debris (tires, lumber, freight loss, rock fall) or to sweep traveled lanes shoulders, or intersections in the case of crashes, mechanical failure, or embankment erosion. This exposes agency workers to safety risks, especially on high-speed and/or high-volume roadways. Currently, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has no widely distributed formal guidelines for safely and effectively removing debris from the roadway.
