JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Leaving vehicles abandoned along Mississippi’s highways could be a safety problem, according to the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT).

“If you were to look away or be distracted for any reason and clip this car or vehicle that’s parked alongside the road, that can cause an accident and harm you harm others traveling alongside you. So, yeah, as you can imagine, it is a safety issue,” said Michael Flood, public information officer for MDOT.

Officials with the agency want to remind drivers to be aware of the timeframe they have before the abandoned vehicle is towed away.

“If it’s alongside the shoulder, if a vehicle is broken down or in a crash or something like that, and it is parked alongside of the shoulder or somewhere in our right of way off the interstate, then that vehicle will be tagged by the Highway Patrol, and they will have up to five days to get it removed. And if it is not removed within that period, then we haul it off,” Flood explained.

Owners have 45 days to claim their vehicle before it’s auctioned off for sale.