Unregulated Trailers Cause Havoc

Published: Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 8:06 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 8:06 a.m.

The Governor of North Carolina was courageous in his veto of the Law easing restricitions on the Size of Boat trailers. Has anybody really taken a closer look at the condition, upkeep and quality of these boat trailers and Utility Trailers in general.

In addition to being wide this class of vehicle passenger vehicles towing trailers have caused since 2002 to 2006 (Note 2006 figures are not final) 2,154 deahts, 74,202 injuries, 213,674 property damages. Source through FOIA NHSTA August 16.

Also the NHSTA back in the 60's tried to mandate a standard for trailer hitches but guess what? Just like in your state they got together and overrode the veto. Federal regulations were resisted by manufacturers and rental companies, and US transportation authorities finally dropped them in 1972.

Then on August 14, 2008 Mr. Ports, Jr from NHSTA admitted by letter that "NO Safety Standards exist for utility trailer hitches" Then he goes on to say that all 50 states have regulations regarding the operation of small trailers. Yet somehow we don't.

"In Idaho, there are no regulations that deal with private individuals and towing," said ISP spokesman Rick Ohnsman.

In Virginia ""HOWEVER, VIRGINIA STATE CODE IS SILENT AS TO ANY DESIGN OR

CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS FOR THOSE VEHICLES OR FOR TOWING

CHAINS AND HITCHES.

Your paper even addressed this in 1992 Novermber 7, 1992 Titled Death Comes Unhiched. In closing all trailers need closer inspections.

www.dangeroustrailers.org
Ron J. Melancon
Glen Allen, VA

A Family's Tourment Ron's Letter To The Editor

A Family's Tourment

Published: Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 6:44 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 6:44 a.m.

The Lobbiest once again has won for the Industry. This industry which includes Boat trailers, utility trailers and homemade trailers. In addition to this trailer industry not being regulated these trailers also come unchiched.

I will now point out one accident that happend in York County. This Family still does not know the person responsible...

On July 15, the male driver of a black or dark blue, 1980s model Ford F150 truck was towing a trailer on Highway 49 near Lake Wylie. On the trailer was an older model four-wheeler that was in poor condition and it appeared to have had parts removed from it. The trailer was homemade and consisted of metal beams and mobile home axles; the trailer was also in poor condition. This trailer came loose from the truck towing it and struck another vehicle. According to witnesses, the driver of the truck turned around as if to come back to the accident, but then he fled, leaving the 60-year-old driver of the other vehicle pinned in her car. The victim was flown to Carolinas Medical Center with life-threatening injuries and remains in serious condition.

Has anybody except your governor looked into other accidents caused by these trailers? In closing this family still has no clue who this person is and if this person survied.

You may go here to see the article..

http://yorkcountycrimestoppers.blogspot.com/2008/02/7152006-hit-and-run-near-lake-wylie.html

Ron J. Melancon
Glen Allen

Highway Tumble Doesn't Stop Welder Loose Trailer

Highway Tumble Doesn't Stop Welder.(Brief Article)

From:

Construction Equipment

Date:

December 1, 2000

More results for:

loose trailer

A suspension failure caused the trailer Paul Goodwin was towing to tip over. His nearly new Hobart Champion 10,000 generator/welder broke loose from its mounts on a barge carried by the trailer.

"The machine literally tumbled end-over-end down the road at 50 miles per hour," says Goodwin, who is president of a marine construction company called Watermark Navigation Systems. "It flipped over at least four times. I obviously thought that I'd be buying a new machine."

Back at the shop, Goodwin removed the battered cover from the welder. Components looked good, so he started it up.

"The damage was all cosmetic," he says. Despite the dents and scratches, Goodwin continues to use the Champion 10,000 every day.

"One of these days I'll have to have the cover replaced," he says.

Sheet metal encloses the engine, protecting the engine components. The front bezel--a frame of engineered plastic like that used to make car bumpers--protrudes from the front panel and likely protected the controls

Md. Crash Kills School Bus Driver Loose Trailer

Md. Crash Kills School Bus Driver

From:

AP Online

Date:

May 19, 2000

More results for:

loose trailer

AP Online
05-19-2000
Md. Crash Kills School Bus Driver

DERWOOD, Md. (AP) -- A trailer carrying a tractor broke loose from a farm truck and crashed into a school bus Friday, killing the bus driver and injuring four children, police said.

Three children were airlifted by helicopter to Children's Hospital in Washington and another child was taken away by ambulance, according to Montgomery County Police spokesman Derek Baliles.

A spokesman for Children's Hospital said a 5-year-old girl was listed in critical condition and a 5-year-old girl and 11-year-old girl were in serious condition. The condition of the fourth injured child was not immediately known.

The rest of the approximately 30 young children who had been traveling home from school on the bus were being transported to another hospital to be checked for minor injuries and reunited with their parents.

Baliles said the driver of a farm truck carrying a tractor on a trailer lost control. The trailer separated from the truck and crashed int o the front of the school bus. The farm truck driver was also sent to a hospital with minor injuries.

The school bus driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Derwood is near Rockville, about 20 miles north of downtown Washington.

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