We already know that Our Government has failed the test to regulate Safety on Tractor Trailers. My Point is if Tractor Trailers are failing and they have safety managers working at these companies how about all of these Utilty Trailers that indivuals own?? They kill over 400 people a year... go to More ... News
Man advocates laws for safer vehicle trailers
By Raja Abdulrahim
Times Herald-Record
April 05, 2008 6:00 AM

TUXEDO — On Wednesday morning a horse trailer on the Thruway swayed in the wind, broke loose and overturned, injuring the horse inside.

A day later, in Glen Allen, Va., a Google alert appeared on Ron Melancon's computer, informing him of another trailer accident.

"I got mad," he said. "Oh my God, how can this keep happening?"

Five years ago, Melancon, a native of Monticello, launched a campaign focused on trailer safety.

It began with an effort to require trailers to have reflectors after he crashed into one, and evolved into a push for more driver training and inspections after he saw an accident caused by a loose trailer.

"They kill police officers, they kill people, they kill children, they kill horses," he said. "Why isn't anything being done?"

The horse in Wednesday's crash had to be euthanized as a result of his injuries.

By Melancon's unofficial count, about 400 people die every year in crashes caused by loose trailers in this country.

Actual statistics were not immediately available.

Melancon's first exposure to trailer crash victims came years ago as a Monticello volunteer emergency medical technician, he said.

On Melancon's Web site, dangeroustrailers.org, are pictures of victims who have been killed because of loose trailers and pictures of improperly hooked-up trailers.

Three years ago, he successfully lobbied Virginia state lawmakers to pass a law requiring trailers weighing less than 3,000 pounds to have reflectors.

Melancon said he crashed into a trailer five years ago because it didn't have brake lights or reflectors.

Now he is focused on getting national standards for mandatory instructions on how to both drive and hook up a trailer.

He said each state has different standards, with New York being one of the better ones.

State police Sgt. George Okst, who heads the commercial vehicle enforcement unit, said New York considers improper load securement or coupling devices on par with brake or steering problems.

The fine for a first offense ranges from $350 to $1,000. He said trailers coming loose is a concern but is not a rampant problem.

"The biggest problem we see with coupling devices is when they're worn and they're not up to standards," he said.

rabdulrahim@th-record.com

Matt King contributed to this report