Each year, 70 to 100 people are killed in accidents involving rural mailboxes. Many accident victims that are not killed are often blinded and disfigured for life because mailboxes and their supports penetrate the windshield and hit the victim in the face. Mailbox owners are limited only by their imagination. Steel tractor wheels, water pumps, milk cans filled with concrete, chains and massive I-beams are a few devices used to support mailboxes. Although such supports may be artistic to some, most are serious roadside hazards to motorists.

In a publication entitled "The Law and Roadside Hazards" sponsored by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, it is state that "Private individuals and corporation, as well as governmental entities, may be liable for their roles in creating or maintaining highway hazards. The use of massive rigid mailbox supports such as bricks around the mailbox, heavy metal posts, concrete posts, and items of farm equipment, such as milk cans filled with concrete must not be used.

In Florida, uniform minimum standards and criteria for the design construction and maintenance of all public streets, is presented in the "Manual on Uniform Minimum Standards for Design, Construction and Maintenance for Streets and Highways". This publication, referred to as the "Green Book", developed by Florida Department of Transportation, states that guidelines for the location of mailboxes and the types of support are given in the AASHTO publication "A Guide for Erecting Mailboxes on Highways - 1984". The FDOT "Green Book" also states the Geometric Design Objective #6 is to: "Provide a hazard-free environment that is "forgiving" to a vehicle that has badly deviated from the travel path or is out of control."

The following support and location standards for mailboxes and newspaper delivery boxes are from the AASHTO publication entitled " A Guide for Erecting Mailboxes on Highways" (5-2).

     1.   WOOD POSTS: 4 ½" diameter if round, 4 x 4" if rectangular
     2.  METAL PIPES: 2" inside diameter (maximum) standard steel, or aluminum. 
     3.   NUMBER OF SUPPORTS: Use only one support for one box or group boxes.

1. Yield or collapse if struck.
2. Bend or fall away from vehicle.
3. Not create severe deceleration.
4. Not be fitted with an anchor plate (metal post).
5. Not be embedded over 24" into the ground.
6. Not be set in concrete.

1. Should be on right side of road in direction of delivery travel.
2. Servicing vehicle should be removed from roadway.
3. Mailbox face should be no closer than edge of shoulder (8’ from roadway).
4. Mailbox should not block sight distance.
5. Mailbox should be behind existing guardrail if possible.
6. Should be mounted 3 ½ to 4’ above the mail stop surface.