An abandoned boat and fairground ride were among some of the obstructions that traffic officers have retrieved from National Highways’ roads so far this year.
More than 49,000 objects were collected by National Highways teams from motorways and major A roads between January and the end of September.
Drivers are being urged not to use the roadside as a dumping ground and to ensure their loads are safely secured.
In the South West, ladders, surf boards, Christmas trees and even patio doors are some of the obstructions and shed loads discovered by traffic officers in the carriageways. 
While the boat was spotted far from open water on the side of the A42 near Measham, Leicestershire in July, an officer also came across a fairground ride in a verge along the M180 near Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire last month.
National Highways traffic officers often have to close lanes or carriageways to remove large items and experience first-hand the negative impact obstructions can have on drivers and their safety.
Most of the items picked up in the south west by National Highways this year were building or construction materials with 1,112 found, followed by 849 vehicle parts or accessories and 564 tyres.
Other items officers dealt with over the same period include household or garden items, bikes and animal fatalities. Across the country, most of the items picked up by National Highways this year were building or construction materials with 9,685 found in total, followed by vehicle parts or accessories and tyres.
Figures from National Highways show most incidents logged this year have been on the M6 and M1, followed by the M25, M5 and M62.
Jack Mason, Regional Safety Programme Manager at National Highways, said: “These items left on or alongside our roads can put drivers at risk, while retrieving them puts our staff at risk and often leads to a road or lanes being closed, causing an inconvenience to other motorists.
“Our message is simple – Take responsibility to dispose of your unwanted items in the correct way and secure your loads properly before you set out on your journey. Following these measures could prevent a serious collision and avoids unwelcome objects from blighting the environment along our roadsides.”
Join Somerset Chamber of Commerce to give your business a stronger voice both locally, regionally and nationally. Combined with local town chambers, we represent over 2,000 businesses across Somerset with a direct line to policy-makers at all levels.
