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USRider Urges Drivers of Horse Trailers to Use Caution at Railroad Crossings
By USRider
------------------------------------------------------------------------
To enhance the safety of horses and those who travel with horses, USRider
has worked with Drs. Tomas and Rebecca Gimenez, experts in large animal
emergency rescue, on a research project to gather and analyze data about
horse trailer accidents. Conclusions and recommendations from this study
will be released to the public soon. However, during the course of the
study, USRider and Drs. Gimenez noticed a hazardous trend involving
gooseneck horse trailers, of which they want to caution the public
immediately. While studying more than 200 incidents involving horse
trailers, the researchers noticed an inordinate number of incidents
involving gooseneck horse trailers becoming stuck on railroad crossings.
Almost all of these incidents resulted in the loss of human and equine life.
“Being stuck on a railroad track is preventable and does not have to end in
tragedy,” said Mark Cole, managing member of USRider.
“As the driver of a vehicle pulling a trailer, assume that any low-clearance
caution signs before the railroad track are meant for you,” added Dr. Tomas
Gimenez, professor of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at Clemson University.
“The placement of such warning signs will allow you to take an alternate
safer route."
If you must cross railroad tracks, proceed cautiously, especially when the
tracks are higher than the road grade. If your horse trailer becomes lodged
on a railroad crossing, call 911 immediately since emergency agencies can
contact railroad companies and alert them of the situation.
Additionally, all humans and animals should be evacuated from the tow
vehicle and trailer.
Evacuating the horses from the trailer serves two purposes. Obviously, it
removes them from harm’s way.
“Unloading a horse in a potentially dangerous scenario such as this is going
to make people as well as the horses nervous. Make sure your horses are good
about loading and unloading from the trailer-–this is not the time to be
trying to train them,” said Dr. Rebecca Gimenez. “Also be sure to lead the
horses a good distance away from the tracks to lessen the chance of them
becoming spooked by other people, traffic, the tow truck or a passing
train.”
In addition, evacuating the horses will reduce the weight in the trailer,
which could raise the trailer enough to dislodge it from the tracks and
enable it to complete the crossing safely.
“From a practical standpoint, most railroad crossings are built up, making
them slightly higher than the surrounding roadway. Therein lies the
problem,” said Cole. “When the truck tires pass over the railroad bed and
start approaching the lower roadway grade, the rear tires can also be on the
roadway grade on the other side of the tracks, causing the front of the
gooseneck trailer to bottom out on the tracks.”
While bumper-pull trailers are not as susceptible to this problem, it is
very important to raise the jack stand to a level that will provide
sufficient clearance and not bottom out in extreme situations.
For more equine trailer safety information, please visit the USRider website
at www.usrider.org.
USRider is a nationwide roadside assistance plan created especially for
equestrians. It includes standard features, such as flat-tire repair,
battery assistance and lockout services, plus towing up to 100 miles and
roadside repairs for tow vehicles and trailers with horses, emergency
stabling, veterinary and farrier referrals, and more.
By USRider
------------------------------------------------------------------------
To enhance the safety of horses and those who travel with horses, USRider
has worked with Drs. Tomas and Rebecca Gimenez, experts in large animal
emergency rescue, on a research project to gather and analyze data about
horse trailer accidents. Conclusions and recommendations from this study
will be released to the public soon. However, during the course of the
study, USRider and Drs. Gimenez noticed a hazardous trend involving
gooseneck horse trailers, of which they want to caution the public
immediately. While studying more than 200 incidents involving horse
trailers, the researchers noticed an inordinate number of incidents
involving gooseneck horse trailers becoming stuck on railroad crossings.
Almost all of these incidents resulted in the loss of human and equine life.
“Being stuck on a railroad track is preventable and does not have to end in
tragedy,” said Mark Cole, managing member of USRider.
“As the driver of a vehicle pulling a trailer, assume that any low-clearance
caution signs before the railroad track are meant for you,” added Dr. Tomas
Gimenez, professor of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at Clemson University.
“The placement of such warning signs will allow you to take an alternate
safer route."
If you must cross railroad tracks, proceed cautiously, especially when the
tracks are higher than the road grade. If your horse trailer becomes lodged
on a railroad crossing, call 911 immediately since emergency agencies can
contact railroad companies and alert them of the situation.
Additionally, all humans and animals should be evacuated from the tow
vehicle and trailer.
Evacuating the horses from the trailer serves two purposes. Obviously, it
removes them from harm’s way.
“Unloading a horse in a potentially dangerous scenario such as this is going
to make people as well as the horses nervous. Make sure your horses are good
about loading and unloading from the trailer-–this is not the time to be
trying to train them,” said Dr. Rebecca Gimenez. “Also be sure to lead the
horses a good distance away from the tracks to lessen the chance of them
becoming spooked by other people, traffic, the tow truck or a passing
train.”
In addition, evacuating the horses will reduce the weight in the trailer,
which could raise the trailer enough to dislodge it from the tracks and
enable it to complete the crossing safely.
“From a practical standpoint, most railroad crossings are built up, making
them slightly higher than the surrounding roadway. Therein lies the
problem,” said Cole. “When the truck tires pass over the railroad bed and
start approaching the lower roadway grade, the rear tires can also be on the
roadway grade on the other side of the tracks, causing the front of the
gooseneck trailer to bottom out on the tracks.”
While bumper-pull trailers are not as susceptible to this problem, it is
very important to raise the jack stand to a level that will provide
sufficient clearance and not bottom out in extreme situations.
For more equine trailer safety information, please visit the USRider website
at www.usrider.org.
USRider is a nationwide roadside assistance plan created especially for
equestrians. It includes standard features, such as flat-tire repair,
battery assistance and lockout services, plus towing up to 100 miles and
roadside repairs for tow vehicles and trailers with horses, emergency
stabling, veterinary and farrier referrals, and more.