Towing Safely and Securely
Several trailer incidents have been in the news this week, reminding us all of the need to tow our trailers safely and store them securely.
In one incident in Washington, four would-be thieves were attempting to break the lock on a trailer holding personal watercraft when the noise they were creating woke a neighbor who called police. After a chase into the woods, all four were captured and charged with a list of crimes. That’s the happy story and kudos to the trailer owners who had the sense to use a hitch pin lock and the alert neighbor who took the time to call police.
Less happy news includes a story out of Brunswick, GA where a five car accident started when a camping trailer came unhitched from its towed vehicle and crossed the center line into oncoming traffic. The trailer hit a semi which sent it back across the center line where it caused damage to three more cars. Fortunately, no one was injured. In an accident earlier this year, the driver of an SUV who was hit by a utility trailer that came unhitched was not so lucky, she died as a result of the accident and the driver of the vehicle towing the trailer was charged with second degree vehicular homicide.
In Colorado Springs last week, a woman was killed when the trailer of a cement mixer came unhitched and sheared off the left side of her vehicle.
As trailer owners, we all need to make safety a habit. Get a hitch lock and use it; it’s a simple way to secure your trailer and protect your family. And when you are towing, remember to go through your checklist to ensure your trailer is securely hitched. Keep your hitch and coupler equipment in top working order, make sure your lights are functioning, and use those safety chains!
Several trailer incidents have been in the news this week, reminding us all of the need to tow our trailers safely and store them securely.
In one incident in Washington, four would-be thieves were attempting to break the lock on a trailer holding personal watercraft when the noise they were creating woke a neighbor who called police. After a chase into the woods, all four were captured and charged with a list of crimes. That’s the happy story and kudos to the trailer owners who had the sense to use a hitch pin lock and the alert neighbor who took the time to call police.
Less happy news includes a story out of Brunswick, GA where a five car accident started when a camping trailer came unhitched from its towed vehicle and crossed the center line into oncoming traffic. The trailer hit a semi which sent it back across the center line where it caused damage to three more cars. Fortunately, no one was injured. In an accident earlier this year, the driver of an SUV who was hit by a utility trailer that came unhitched was not so lucky, she died as a result of the accident and the driver of the vehicle towing the trailer was charged with second degree vehicular homicide.
In Colorado Springs last week, a woman was killed when the trailer of a cement mixer came unhitched and sheared off the left side of her vehicle.
As trailer owners, we all need to make safety a habit. Get a hitch lock and use it; it’s a simple way to secure your trailer and protect your family. And when you are towing, remember to go through your checklist to ensure your trailer is securely hitched. Keep your hitch and coupler equipment in top working order, make sure your lights are functioning, and use those safety chains!
