http://www2.nbc26.tv/news/2012/jul/03/road-gators-may-spell-disaster-dri...

By: Corey Bachman | NBC Augusta
Published: July 03, 2012 Updated: July 03, 2012 - 7:28 PM
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Drive up and down I-20 and you're bound to see shredded bits and pieces of tires littering the roadway.

The dangerous debris comes mostly from 18-wheelers and the record-setting heat this summer is partly to blame for so much rubber on the road.

"When you have less pressure, you have more of the tire that's in contact with the road and it's pushing outward. That creates more friction, more friction creates much more heat and the extra heat is what causes the tire to separate," said Aaron Clements.

With these remnants from big rig traffic and tire blowouts, the roadway obstacles may pose a hazardous threat to drivers.

"The thing that we can always advise is if you see it try not to snatch the wheel, try to slow down enough to where you can maintain control of your vehicle and pass with safety," said L. Cpl. Judd Jones.

Highway maintenance crews in both South Carolina and in Georgia have DOT maintenance crews routinely tidy up roads for trash and debris.

Across the state of Georgia, they're collecting as many as five tons a week of illegally dumped tires and tread carcasses.

The Georgia DOT tells us the department which handles highway cleanup is understaffed and a lot of times workers aren't able to cleanup the roadways as quick as they'd like to.

They are only responsible for state roads and interstates.

Local governments are responsible for their own upkeep on county and city roads.

Over in South Carolina, the Highway patrols assists the DOT collecting debris on state highways and interstates.

"A lot of times on the interstate, you know it's kinda hard to get out of your car with so much traffic, but if you can get out we can pull it off the roadway," added Jones.