INLAND EMPIRE – (INT) – A new survey has found nearly half of all motorists who responded admit to sometimes littering along streets and highways and it’s getting worse.

Nearly one in five California motorists report intentionally dumping something on the side of the road. Survey respondents confirmed they improperly disposed of items ranging from old furniture and appliances to green waste from their yard such as lawn clippings, branches or leaves.

Semi-rural areas and vacant lots are favorite dumping grounds especially in poorer communities.

In and around Perris, the most popular discarded items are mattresses, tires, old furniture and TV’s.

In addition, another 6 percent of motorists admitted that they fail to pick up waste left by pets on the side of the road.

“These findings are staggering because this is not accidental public behavior, but rather a conscious decision to improperly discard or leave behind debris along California roadways,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty.

The survey was conducted in February 2016 by ConsumerQuest Research. Responses were collected from more than 300 California drivers across the state age 18 years of age and older.

Story Date: January 25, 2017