What’s that sort of reddish stuff I sometimes see on the freeway or highway? It looks kind of like dried paint, but if it is, it seems to occur several times more frequently than other colors of spilled paint. I’ve asked everyone I can think of, from my mom (who says it’s the blood of unwary drivers) to Caltrans to the Highway Patrol, and no one will tell me what’s going on.
I believe you’re probably looking at the blood remains of a deer hit. (or other animals of large size)
Rust stains? Transmission fluid?
Maybe if you can link to a photo or more completely describe where you see this, what sort of pattern the material is in (smears, streaks, specks, spots, etc.) and the extent the stains generally cover, someone can provide more concrete answers.
Emergency services here in the UK use a sort of brick-red sand (I suspect it’s more than sand, actually) to soak up and cover oil spills at RTA scenes. Could it be something like that?
WAG: Menorrhea?
They’re squeamish about even mentioning it.
That was my guess as well.
Does old deer blood have a pale red color, and is it typically seen in a kind of “spray pattern,” that spreads out in the direction of traffic flow?
If so, I’ve seen this several times without realizing what it was.
I would support the deer (and occasional dog or coon) hypothesis. I see it a lot more frequently near my house (where the deer are a serious driving hazard) than in other areas where deer are more rare. I have also seen the splatters with the deer at the roadside. It is more common when an 18-weeler or dump truck broadsides a deer than when a deer is lofted onto the hood of a car with a low bumper and front grill.
It’s highly unlikely the blood would ever be human. As I understand, they use a power-washer to spray away human blood during accident clean-up as not to upset family members who may travel the same road every day. No one has emotional involvement in the vehicular homicide of a deer, so they judt don’t bother.
Depending on the location, I think you might be seeing fire suppressant material that has been air dropped. This often leaves a darkish red stain that will remain for some time.
It’s the blood and meat. A deer caught under a semi trailer can leave red for 10 20 feet easily half a lane wide, with only a small bundle of skin by the roadside.