Horrific towing incident
I'm not sure if anyone will be able to get to this link. It's on Facebook. I felt compelled to post it. An uncaring driver Cut off some people who were telling a horse trailer. It was a disaster! ...
Forum Discussion
Deb and Ed M wrote:Cloud Dancer wrote:
I've been driving for 53 years, and I have never had a vehicular accident on a public road. If someone "cut's me off", and doesn't make contact with my vehicle, this means they were ahead of me. Therefore, I shouldn't have a need to "slam" my brakes. I touch the brake pedal in order to cancel the cruise control, while staying in full control of MY vehicle. Then, I take it from there.
It's different with a loaded horse trailer, though - your load is top-heavy by nature (horses being the leggy critters they are) and your load can startle and shift THEIR combined weight of probably a ton. Depending on what you are towing with, you can get the tail wagging the dog very quickly. Granted, most folks know to activate the trailer brakes manually to stop the swaying, but in a panic, that may not be the first thing that crosses your mind....
Simple, it's a matter of me driving differently than you. Towing a trailer, I do NOT swerve! If I'm driving, why would I choose to swerve versus just touching the brake with my right foot, therefore DE-celerating, while the idiot is still trying to complete his "cutting me off". If I make contact, HIS vehicle is at an angle, but still moving. He's the one that's out of control, NOT me. I'm not waiting for him to get completely in my lane, and THEN he slams the brakes. In the first place, I'm already in the decelerating mode by the time he straightens out and hits the brake. THEN, if I do make contact, I send him forward, BUT I'm still in control of my rig. My rig is heavier than his. If I concentrate on simply staying in control of my rig, I win.
Things simply do NOT happen THAT quickly, for me. I drive as if every driver out there is out to crash me. And, I'm aware of the vehicles all around me, and what they are getting ready to do. They're either going the same speed as I am, or slower, or faster. I profile them and anticipate what they might do. And, I try to be ready. I drive in a very responsible manner. But, I also believe in good, and in bad, LUCK. All you can do is try. I just wish everyone drove like I do.
