Dingy braking - do, did, or won't
How many tow a vehicle without supplemental brakes? Please, don't turn me into DOT and I know the State "requirements". Car weighs less than 4,000 lbs. I'm just asking how many do it or have done i...
Forum Discussion
Dutch_12078 wrote:RJsfishin wrote:Dutch_12078 wrote:
I have, but not willingly. I don't care how good your coach brakes are, unloading that extra 3-4,000 lb load will shorten your emergency braking distance. Sometimes just a few inches can be the difference between a safe stop and a disaster.
What you say may be true.
But what about paying more attention, and leaving those same few more inches between you and the vehicle you're following,.....won't that accomplish the same thing ??
Of course that's common sense when driving a heavy vehicle, but it does not help when some fool pulls out in front of you or runs a light or stop sign. Or a kid or animal runs in front of you...
Ah, yes, the "Emergency" argument.
But, let's inject a dose of reality into that "emergency". When that kid or animal runs in front of you, how far will you travel before your foot hits the brake pedal? How far beyond that will you travel before the braking takes effect?
The FMVSS braking performance laws (and most State Braking Performance laws) state that you must be able to stop within 40 or 45 feet(FMVSS is, IIRC, 40, MT is 40, CA is 45) from 20 MPH. Keep in mind that the distance does not take into account the time it takes to apply the brakes, it is actual stopping distance from brake application to full stop. Even at 20 MPH, you hit the fool that pulled out in front of you, or ran over the kid or dog that ran out! What chance will you have to get stopped in time at 40, 50, or 70 MPH?
Good luck.
