Dangerous Utility Trailers
Monday, June 23rd, 2008Unregulated utility trailers are apparently becoming a big problem nationwide and in Idaho.
Police say they’re causing too many accidents, some of which are fatal.
Now many believe it’s time to update regulations, which would involve more responsibility being placed on the trailer owners.
Trailers are a common sight on Idaho roads. They come in a variety of sizes and weights. The big difference is in how they’re regulated, or in some cases not regulated.
“Certainly lately we’ve had several accidents, some noticeable accidents or crashes where that’s been a factor,” said Lt. Bill Reese, Idaho State Police.
Reese says the fact that really any trailer can be used on Idaho roads as long as it’s licensed is a cause for concern — very few safety factors are required.
“The safety chains are designed to keep that trailer behind the towing unit so it doesn’t go into the other lane or cross the median. And right now in Idaho we don’t have a law that requires the use of safety chains on any trailers at all,” said Reese.
That issue popped up on Monday, when a trailer came loose, rolled across the median on Interstate 84 near Nampa and collided with an oncoming truck.
No one was seriously hurt, but that’s not always the case.
In fact, last month, three members of the Coburn family in Sweet were killed when a utility trailer came loose, causing them to crash into a nearby creek — but it doesn’t end there.
Between 2002 and 2006, there were 25 injury accidents involving trailers in Idaho. Two other accidents were fatal, another 260 causing property damage, totaling nearly 290 crashes.
But the problem can also involve the loads. There are no laws in the Gem State requiring items to be tied down.
“Say somebody has a mattress fly out of the back of their trailer because it’s not secured and it causes a fatal crash. There really is no law that says that mattress had to be secured in that vehicle,” said Reese.
Now one man is hoping to change that.
“These trailers are unregulated. There’s no training. Anyone can buy one,” said Ron Melancon.
Living in Richmond, Va., Melancon’s website, DangerousTrailers.org, chronicles deadly accidents nationwide.
He’s been lobbying state lawmakers across the country, and most recently he wrote Idaho Gov. Butch Otter.
He wants the laws changed, but more importantly he says education needs to be a priority. Melancon suggests a drivers license endorsement similar to a requirement for driving a motorcycle.
“In the endorsement there should be chains, the pin, the right size ball, the right size hitch, and how to make sure your trailer is safe for the road,” said Melancon.
He says if a person knows how to properly operate a trailer, most accidents can and will be avoided.
Melancon said trailer manufacturers have been fighting him on this issue ever since he brought up the idea of education, but he has found some success. In his own state of Virginia, he got lawmakers to pass a law requiring reflective tape.
His ultimate goal is to get every state to increase, and eventually adopt, identical safety standards.
Tags: Utility Trailers