Keep clippings out of the road

It’s a little thing.

But it’s not a little thing.

It’s certainly not a little thing if you’re on a motorcycle.

Jay County Commissioner Chad Aker made a special point Monday of urging folks not to send their grass clippings into the road.

In a wet spring like this one, those clippings spread across a surface of asphalt pose a serious hazard to any motorcyclist or bicyclist passing by.

You might as well spread grease on the road. They’re that slippery.

And in half a second, they could spell the difference between a ride in the country and a bone-crushing encounter with the pavement.

Does it take a few minutes to re-position a lawnmower? Sure.

Would it be a bit of a nuisance to find a broom or a rake to clean up the mess? Sure.

But could those actions prevent serious injury or worse? You bet.

Motorcyclists are used to being overlooked when on the road. They know that some drivers just don’t see them or don’t seem to care.

They know that when crops and weeds grow high in mid-summer any rural intersection can be life-threatening.

But a thing like grass clippings can’t be overlooked.

As we said, it’s a little thing. But it’s not a little thing. — J.R.