Recently, a tragic Mid-Michigan automobile accident resulted in the loss of the best Christmas present a little girl could ever receive, her horse. Unfortunately, this accident was allegedly caused by an incident of road rage, when an impatient driver, frustrated with the slow speed of the truck and trailer in which the horse was riding, cut the truck off sharply. The driver of the trailer was forced to brake suddenly, the horse scrambled, lost its footing and ultimately had to be euthanized.
Impatience as factor in travel safety
Accident shows how challenging it is to drive a truck and trailer hauling horses and other livestock, or large motorhomes and other recreational vehicles.
This terrible incident serves as a sad reminder during the busy summer travel season: many drivers do not realize how challenging it is to drive a truck and trailer hauling horses and other livestock, or even large motorhomes and other recreational vehicles. When involving a horse or livestock trailer, however, both human and animal lives can be lost.
When following horse or livestock trailers, it is important to remember that the combined weight of the truck, trailer, horses and equipment make it extremely difficult to stop quickly, or even slow down substantially. A horse trailer can’t stop on a dime any easier than your car can, and actually it is much more difficult.
Further, a horseman (or woman), or livestock producer is always thinking about the health and safety of their animals while driving. This may result in driving slightly slower than posted speeds, as well as attempting to leave a great deal of stopping distance between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them. When passing trucks hauling trailers, please leave much more space between you and the truck you are passing than you would with a car, before pulling back into the lane.
Although an impatient driver caused this particular incident, there are several other issues that may result in horse trailer accidents. Regular trailer maintenance is a key part of owning and hauling animals, as is making certain that those driving trucks and trailers have experience driving such rigs (without animals) prior to setting out, and using an appropriate sized vehicle to haul the trailer. Should you find yourself in an emergency situation while hauling a horse, click here for more information on how best to handle it safely.
Again, none of the previous information can change what happened to this little girl, but it serves as a reminder to people with or without horses or other animals to use the utmost care when traveling.
Learn more about Safe Travel with Your Equine
Information for this news article is taken from Michigan State Equine News - By Karen Waite, M.S.