mister_d
Southeast, MI - hardly qualified to be a
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I'm likely preaching to the choir here, but we all probably can't get enough reminders to slow down. We drove about 20 hours from FL to MI and saw quite a few trailers being pulled over the recommended limits.
We were heading north and were in deadlock for about an hour and a half while southbound was backed up for what seemed like over 10 miles. It was a very sobering moment seeing the TT spread all over the road in a gazillion pieces.
I-65 Tennessee Accident
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edatlanta
Panama City Beach, FL
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I agree mister_d. I don't care what your rig is or how fast it can tow "with no problems", you can't stop them. They are all heavy and stopping is much more of a challenge than towing fast. And a lot of people don't think about that extra stopping distance until it is too late.
I tow at 60 on the interstate and always stay in the right lane. I get 12.5 mpg hand calculated and I'm a lot more relaxed towing this way. Hurry? Why? I'll get there just a few minutes after the guy driving 75-80.
Ed
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DiskDoctr
PA
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The article says the driver crossed the median. I don't see where speed was a factor?
Sure, be careful, but you could also have said not to use a cellphone while driving or be sure to use a good brake controller.
Unless you know more details about the accident than the article published...
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HappyTrails2U2
Tennessee is home but being held hostage in GA.
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The lady towing the trailer went across the media and hit the other woman head on and killed her. You just never know when you'll be driving along and suddenly your number is up!
Did you ever think of all the crazy chain of events that have to take place in order for a person to be at that exact location at that exact moment in their life in order to get hit head on by another person at the exact same spot in time. There's millions of things that put them at that exact spot which was determined by every little or big event that took place in their lives. The most insignificant thing could have keep this from happening or caused it to happen. Fate?
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Chromag
Florida
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Update
"Officials with the Tennessee Highway Patrol said that the crash involved a pickup truck pulling a trailer and another vehicle. According to reports both cars were driving at excessive speeds when the pickup truck lost control and went across the median and hit a vehicle on the southbound side."
I've always been "that guy" doing 80 mph down the interstate. It's been tough sitting in the right lane doing 60-65mph when towing but stories like this are always a sobering reminder.
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eric james
Sioux Falls, SD
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This is why I drive an Expedition (wish an Excursion). I want a fighting chance in a head on like this accident.
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bodyshop bob
Georgia
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eric james wrote:This is why I drive an Expedition (wish an Excursion). I want a fighting chance in a head on like this accident.
Eric -- I've spent the majority of my adult life in autobody repair and now on the insurance side. Please believe me when I tell you that modern engineering and advances in welding technology has done wonderful things in saving lives, but when kinetic energy (1/2M X V2) is released in a sudden, awful instant it really doesn't matter what steel cocoon you've wrapped yourself. The formula above is half the Mass times the velocity squared.
If you really want a "fighting chance" then just SLOW DOWN. Tow the lightest unit you are comfortable with and pack it as lightly as possible.
Physics just does not care what steps we take to defeat it.
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doctor roy
Mars
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I know most people towing don't follow the speed limits. In most states in the east the speed limit for a towed trailer etc. is 55 mph. I run 55 to 60 and if no one likes it thats what the left lane is for, passing. I also get much better fuel milage at this speed than I did at hight speeds.
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M GO BLUE
Southgate, MI
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Most people out there are just to thick-headed to understand an accident like this and combined with the perception "IT WON'T EVER HAPPEN TO ME!" attitude it's just another way of "thinning the herd"...
Instead about thinking about just yourself also think about the rest of the occupants in your car and the other drivers on the road...
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JiminDenver
Denver, Co
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eric james wrote:This is why I drive an Expedition (wish an Excursion). I want a fighting chance in a head on like this accident.
I can vouch for what a Expy can take as far as damage goes. We were T boned by a Mustang doing 50 mph. It hit on the passenger door where I was sitting and even though a 03 doesn't have side airbags, all I got was a bruise on my hip.
The hit was hard enough to rip a wheel off of the Expy, the mustang was shortened by a third and we were sent flying into a third vehicle that also was totaled. ( insurance totaled the Expy)
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