Throughout the United States of America (and many countries around the world), driving on beaches with cars and/or large automobiles is permitted. Although the intention of such actions are for the enjoyment, leisure, and convenience of many beach goers, the effects on the environment are all but beneficial. According to Nature.com: "Off-road vehicle use is arguably one of the most environmentally damaging human activities undertaken on sandy beaches worldwide. Existing studies focused on areas of high traffic volumes have demonstrated significantly lower abundance, diversity and species richness of fauna in zones where traffic is concentrated."

Many environmental species and systems are heavily disturbed by the presence of enormous automobiles that move at high speeds. Coastal bids along the shoreline face threat from the destruction of their nests, that they camouflage to protect from predators. As cars barrel over such nests, they are destroyed en masse, disrupting the ecosystem. Eggs are not the only things threatened by this practice, newly hatched chicks may face the same threat in the face of an automobile. Even outside of the path of a car, birds may flee from nests out of fear, leaving the younglings vulnerable to predators and temperature stress. In conjunction with birds, the ever endangered sea turtles face similar circumstances. With their delicate eggs laid beneath the surface of the sand and the nature of hatched turtles to crawl towards the sea, the presence of automobiles can restrict these species through the destruction of eggs and the severance of the young turtles' paths to the ocean. Adult turtles also face threat during night driving, on top of the decrease of suitability of habitat by the lights and noises produces by vehicles, especially at night.

Dune vegetation and the erosion of beaches are also under threat in such circumstances. One such example is the Outer Banks in North Carolina which has seen enormous levels of receding beaches due to practices such as these and climate change (such as sea level rise and larger/more destructive hurricanes and natural disasters). According to NationalGeographic.com: "In an area of Hatteras Island between Avon and Buxton [North Carolina], the beach has receded about 2,500 feet in the past 150 years. That portion of the island has narrowed to just 25 percent of its original width". This is an obvious display of the need of urgency to save beaches such as those in the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Fauna and flora in a variety of locations are also placed at a higher risk.

Human foot traffic plays a roll in environmental coast degradation, it is therefore important to address such practices where a myriads of multi-thousand pound vehicles trample our beaches.

Changes in the United States of America's culture of beach driving is crucial to the preservation of our coastal areas at the benefit of all species for generations to come, including humans who do not directly live on the coast. The restriction of access to areas experiencing erosion/degradation and nesting species' locations would improve the well-being of our beaches. In addition to the restriction of to certain areas, beach communities and governments with oversight of beaches and coastal lands should consider bans on beach driving as many other countries, states, counties, and towns have already done. With such changes, ecosystems will be improved, the effects of climate change will be lessened, and the appreciation of coastal lands will be enabled at the benefit of humans, animals, and vegetation alike. This petition aims to pressure and encourage governments on all levels who possess the capabilities of enacting these changes on a legal level to implement such changes.

According to CoastalCare.org reported origially by CBS News: "At least 12 states allow you to drive on at least some beaches." (30 of the United States' 50 states are coastal)

Some areas that allow beach driving in the United States of America include: "Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts, portions of the New Jersey shore, North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Georgia’s islands, certain areas in Florida, North and South Padre Islands and other areas in Texas, and several areas in Oregon and Washington, including the Long Beach Peninsula shoreline" -Beachapedia.com

Some exempt counties in the U.S. State of Florida include: "The counties affected by this exception are Volusia, St. Johns, Gulf, Nassau, and Flagler Counties, as well as limited vehicular access on Walton County beaches for boat launching." -Beachapedia.com

Beachapedia, National Geographic, Nature.com, The Washington Post, CBS News, CoastalCare.com, CoastalLiving.com, among other sources were consulted for the creation of this petition.