Media Release - Community urged to keep grass clippings clear of the road

The Hinchinbrook Shire Council is urging the community to take care when mowing or slashing their properties and avoid casting grass clippings out onto the road.

Emergency Service personnel have brought to Council’s attention a number of instances where residents have cast grass clippings out onto the road when mowing. This practice is considered dangerous for road users especially during wet weather due to clippings causing slipperiness of surfaces.

Officer in Charge, Halifax Police Station, Sergeant Gio Tantalo said ‘the Transport Operations Road Use Management Act provides for a specific offence for injurious matter on roads’.

(1) Any person who deposits or drops or causes or suffers to be deposited or dropped on any road any matter, substance, or thing likely to cause injury, damage, or danger to any person, vehicle, tram, train, or animal, and being any wood, stone, sand, gravel, nail, tack, scrap iron, glass, wire, tin, bottle, thorn, clipping, oily or sticky substance, or other matter, substance or thing whatsoever, shall be guilty of an offence.

Section 137, Transport Operations Road Use Management Act (page 321)

 Sergeant Gio Tantalo said ‘Any person guilty of such an offence is liable to a maximum penalty of 40 penalty units ($126.15 per penalty unit) or 6 months’ imprisonment’.

Cr Skinner said ‘the safety of road users is our main priority and your assistance in maintaining a safe road environment is appreciated.’

Image: Grass clipping on road forming danger to vehicles and cyclists