trailer safety information, trailer safety, horse trailer safety information, horse trailer safety
Kentucky State Police report that the
Alabama truck driver who crossed the
median and caused a crash that killed
him and 10 other people last March had
been using his cell phone to send and
receive calls in the minutes leading up
to the crash. This tragedy is just one example
of the dangerous consequences
of distracted driving.
Statistics show that driving while
distracted is a factor in 25 percent of
police reported crashes. Driving is an
activity that demands close attention.
Not only do drivers need to watch what
they are doing, but also they have to
keep an eye on other drivers and road conditions.
Given the rising number of automobile accidents caused
by texting, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a nationwide
ban in January 2010 that prohibits texting by drivers
of commercial vehicles, such as large trucks and buses.
USRider applauds the ban and urges horse owners to voluntarily
comply with this ban while transporting Horses.
Trailering Horses is a huge responsibility and should be
taken very seriously. While horse owners are not required to
carry a Commercial Driver’s License to tow a horse trailer,
they are driving a vehicle that is most likely carrying weight
that exceeds the weight of many commercial vehicles. With
the increased weight, a tow vehicle and trailer have a much
longer stopping distance than passenger cars and light trucks.
Evidence shows that even hands-free devices do not
reduce the risk of an accident. The underlying problem is
that the brain is distracted; in a study recently conducted by
USRider, distracted driving was found to be a primary reason
for trailer incidents.
Such accidents are easily preventable. Drivers need to keep
their minds and eyes on the road, and pull over if they need
to text or make a call.
Driving while using a cell phone can pose a serious
distraction and impair driver performance. Research by
the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shows that
drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes
off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6
USRider ® Equestrian Motor Plan
Hitch Up! e-Magazine • Summer 2010
Keynotes•Safety News
Pay Attention to the Road
CLiX PHOTO
seconds while
texting.
At 55 miles-perhour,
this means
that the driver
is traveling the
length of a football
field, including the
end zones, without looking at the road. Drivers who text while
driving are 20 times more likely to get into an accident than
nondistracted drivers.
If you text while hauling your Horse, you can cause him
injury or death. You also pose a risk to yourself and other
motorists. USR
Don’t Be a ‘Puffer’
P
Idling gets zero miles per gallon. According
to ConsumerEnergyCenter.
org, 10 seconds of idling uses more
gas than restarting your car or truck,
and two minutes of idling uses as
much gas as driving a mile. Not to
mention the damage idling can cause to cylinders. USR
— Excerpted from Eco-Horsekeeping: Over 100 Budget-
Friendly Ways You and Your Horse Can Save the Planet
Green Tip
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Pay attention to the
road (left). Drivers who
text (below) are 20
times more likely to get
into an accident than
nondistracted drivers.
RENE E. RILEY PHOTO
KEYNOTES
MEMBER STORY TRAILER CLINIC ISSUES TRUCK SAVVY ON-THE-GO-GEAR HAULING HINTS USR COMMUNITY USR BENEFITS
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