# Why does the DOT always leave the bumper of a car on the highway after a wreck?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-dot-always-leave-the-bumper-of-a-car-on-the-highway-after-a-wreck/438947
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 24, 2008, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-dot-always-leave-the-bumper-of-a-car-on-the-highway-after-a-wreck/438947 "2008-02-24T14:19:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2008, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-dot-always-leave-the-bumper-of-a-car-on-the-highway-after-a-wreck/438947/1 "2008-02-24T14:19:12Z")
The Northeast gor slammed by a nast storm this past Friday, there were wrecks up the wazoo and I noticed (4) bumpers from different cars on the sides of the highway. Everything was cleared after the wrecks except the bumpers. I have noticed this at different times of the year…there will be a nasty accident and after the fire tricks, ambulance and hazmat teams have done their thing they leave the bumper under the guard rail or tossed to the side. Why is that?
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2008, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-dot-always-leave-the-bumper-of-a-car-on-the-highway-after-a-wreck/438947/2 "2008-02-24T15:01:20Z")
It’s up to the owner or his agent the tow truck operator to take it. DOT picks up the road debris all at once with a dump truck crew. I raise you a bumper and call you a front quarter of a semi. I saw it in the snow on Friday.
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### Author:  [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-dot-always-leave-the-bumper-of-a-car-on-the-highway-after-a-wreck/438947/3 "2008-02-24T16:44:14Z")
I betcha the bumper is tossed/thrown away from the crash site. The tow truck driver is supposed to get all the debris and take with him, but if the bumper were far enough away he might not see it. Those dudes are always in a hurry, too. It’s not like they’re scouring the roadside looking for more stuff to gather up.
Like **Harmonius** said, it’s not a DOT thing, until their trash pickup crew comes around again.
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### Author:  [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-dot-always-leave-the-bumper-of-a-car-on-the-highway-after-a-wreck/438947/4 "2008-02-24T20:57:53Z")
Now that you say it you are right! It’s those lazy wrecker drivers…heh, my neighbor drives a wrecker I’ll thave to ask him 🙂
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### Author:  [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-dot-always-leave-the-bumper-of-a-car-on-the-highway-after-a-wreck/438947/5 "2008-02-25T02:46:54Z")
Now that you mention it, I’ve noticed the same thing. Occasionally, you’ll see a bumper discarded along the side of the road, but you’ll rarely ever see any other part. Even lost hubcaps seem to be less common than stray bumpers these days.
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### Author:  [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2008, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-dot-always-leave-the-bumper-of-a-car-on-the-highway-after-a-wreck/438947/6 "2008-02-25T03:00:00Z")
Before you tar and feather all tow truck drivers, think about it for a second. Many times with a minor fender benders, the bumper cover will come off, but both cars are still drivable. The car owner(s) don’t bother to pick up his bumper and drives off. Result one or sometimes two bumpers left by the side of the road.
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### Author:  [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2008, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-dot-always-leave-the-bumper-of-a-car-on-the-highway-after-a-wreck/438947/7 "2008-02-25T04:19:13Z")
[QUOTE=Diceman]
Now that you mention it, I’ve noticed the same thing. Occasionally, you’ll see a bumper discarded along the side of the road, but you’ll rarely ever see any other part. Even lost hubcaps seem to be less common than stray bumpers these days.
[/QUOTE]
Of course lost hubcaps are less common these days. Un-lost hubcaps are a hell of a lot less common, too!
Do most cars even _have_ hubcaps any more?
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2008, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-dot-always-leave-the-bumper-of-a-car-on-the-highway-after-a-wreck/438947/8 "2008-02-25T13:26:20Z")
I know of one exit where the stop warning cuts are so bumpy the place collects hub caps. You can see them come off cars ahead of you sometimes, and the shoulder is full of them. I haven’t used it in a couple years, so maybe it got fixed.
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### Author:  [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2008, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-dot-always-leave-the-bumper-of-a-car-on-the-highway-after-a-wreck/438947/9 "2008-02-25T17:14:55Z")
[QUOTE=Rick]
Before you tar and feather all tow truck drivers, think about it for a second.
[/QUOTE]
I didn’t mean for my post to be disparaging. The tow truck driver can’t be faulted for not scouring the shoulder of the road for every bit of accident detritus - he’s got a duty to be quick about his work.