tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73896899118489592942024-02-20T00:39:02.038-08:00Correspondence Letters From United StatesRon Melanconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07856693100553559754noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389689911848959294.post-33821858280290139872008-09-17T10:18:00.002-07:002008-09-26T09:52:58.559-07:00The Numbers Of Accidents.<div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-western"> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><br /><table class="Table" summary="Procedure Tabulate: Table 1" rules="all" border="3" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="1" frame="box"> <thead><tr> <th class="c m Header" scope="col" rowspan="3">Year</th> <th class="c Header" scope="colgroup" colspan="6">Crash Severity</th> <th class="c Header" scope="colgroup" colspan="2" rowspan="2">Total / Total<br /></th> </tr> <tr> <th class="c Header" scope="colgroup" colspan="2">Fatal Crash /<br />Fatality </th> <th class="c Header" scope="colgroup" colspan="2">Injury Crash / Injured </th> <th class="c Header" scope="colgroup" colspan="2">Property Damage Only Crash</th> </tr> <tr> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Number</th> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Percent</th> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Number</th> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Percent</th> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Number</th> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Percent</th> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Number</th> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Percent</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">1999</th> <td class="r b Data">405 / 499</td> <td class="r b Data">0.6%</td> <td class="r b Data">21,508 / 33,304<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">27.3%</td> <td class="r b Data">43,991<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">72.1%</td> <td class="r b Data">65,904 / 77,794<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">100.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2000<br /></th> <td class="r b Data">353 / 437</td> <td class="r b Data">0.7%</td> <td class="r b Data">15,874 / 26,095<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">26.4%</td> <td class="r b Data">39,512</td> <td class="r b Data">73.0%</td> <td class="r b Data">55,739 / 66,044<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">100.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2001</th> <td class="r b Data">329 / 381</td> <td class="r b Data">0.6%</td> <td class="r b Data">14,316 / 21,356<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">27.1%</td> <td class="r b Data">40,445</td> <td class="r b Data">72.4%</td> <td class="r b Data">55,091 / 62,182<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">100.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2002</th> <td class="r b Data">384 / 313<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">0.7%</td> <td class="r b Data">14,022 / 23,420<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">25.6%</td> <td class="r b Data">36,968</td> <td class="r b Data">73.7%</td> <td class="r b Data">51,304 / 60,071<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">100.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2003</th> <td class="r b Data">365 / 424</td> <td class="r b Data">0.7%</td> <td class="r b Data">11,746 / 24,597<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">21.5%</td> <td class="r b Data">40,080</td> <td class="r b Data">77.8%</td> <td class="r b Data">54,928 / 65,099<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">100.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">1999-2003</th> <td class="r b Data">1765 / 2054</td> <td class="r b Data">0.6%</td> <td class="r b Data">80,205 / 130,824<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">25.6%</td> <td class="r b Data">200,997</td> <td class="r b Data">73.8%</td> <td class="r b Data">282,967 / 333,875<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">100.0%</td> </tr> </tbody> </table><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span class="190041112-09092008"><br /></span></span><table class="Table" summary="Procedure Tabulate: Table 1" rules="all" border="3" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="1" frame="box"><thead><tr><th class="c m Header" scope="col" rowspan="3">Year</th> <th class="c Header" scope="colgroup" colspan="6">Crash Severity</th> <th class="c Header" scope="colgroup" colspan="2" rowspan="2">Total / Total<br /></th> </tr> <tr> <th class="c Header" scope="colgroup" colspan="2">Fatal Crash /<br /> Fatality </th> <th class="c Header" scope="colgroup" colspan="2">Injury Crash / Injured </th> <th class="c Header" scope="colgroup" colspan="2">Property Damage Only Crash</th> </tr> <tr> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Number</th> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Percent</th> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Number</th> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Percent</th> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Number</th> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Percent</th> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Number</th> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Percent</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2003</th> <td class="r b Data">365 / 424<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">0.6%</td> <td class="r b Data">14,484 / 24,597<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">27.3%</td> <td class="r b Data">40,080<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">72.1%</td> <td class="r b Data">54,929 / 65,101<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">100.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2004</th> <td class="r b Data">362 / 426<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">0.7%</td> <td class="r b Data">17,467 / 27,232<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">26.4%</td> <td class="r b Data">46,737</td> <td class="r b Data">73.0%</td> <td class="r b Data">64,566 / 74,395<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">100.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2005</th> <td class="r b Data">428 / 503<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">0.6%</td> <td class="r b Data">16,482 / 26,353<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">27.1%</td> <td class="r b Data">47,368</td> <td class="r b Data">72.4%</td> <td class="r b Data">64,278 / 74,224<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">100.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2006</th> <td class="r b Data">363 / 419<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">0.7%</td> <td class="r b Data">11,746 / 20,346<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">25.6%</td> <td class="r b Data">42,520</td> <td class="r b Data">73.7%</td> <td class="r b Data">54,630 / 63,285<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">100.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2007</th> <td class="r b Data">389 / 459<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">0.7%</td> <td class="r b Data">12,704 / 21,775<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">21.5%</td> <td class="r b Data">40,320</td> <td class="r b Data">77.8%</td> <td class="r b Data">53,413 / 65,554<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">100.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2003-2007</th> <td class="r b Data">1,907 / 2,231<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">0.6%</td> <td class="r b Data">72,883 / 122,534<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">25.6%</td> <td class="r b Data">217,026</td> <td class="r b Data">73.8%</td> <td class="r b Data">291,816 / 341,791<br /></td> <td class="r b Data">100.0%</td> </tr> </tbody> </table><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span class="190041112-09092008"><br />Note: To make it easier to understand I put the numbers into the graphs. Ron<br /><br />Ron,</span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span class="190041112-09092008"></span></span> </div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span class="190041112-09092008">They are two different sets of numbers. One number is a crash count and the other is a people count.</span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span class="190041112-09092008"></span></span> </div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span class="190041112-09092008">Based on the <u>2006 final</u> figures as they relate to crashes involving a passenger vehicle with a trailing unit:</span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span class="190041112-09092008"></span></span> </div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span class="190041112-09092008">In 2006, there were 363 fatal crashes in which a total of 419 persons were killed - a crash may<br />have more than 1 fatality.</span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span class="190041112-09092008"></span></span> </div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span class="190041112-09092008"><br />In 2006, an estimated 12,000 (11,746) crashes occurred where at least one person was injured.<br />An estimated 20,000 (20,346) persons were injured in those crashes - a crash may have more<br />than 1 person injured</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span class="190041112-09092008">.</span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span class="190041112-09092008"></span></span> </div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span class="190041112-09092008">-Tonja</span></span></div><br /><div class="OutlookMessageHeader" dir="ltr" align="left" lang="en-us"> <hr tabindex="-1"><br /></div><blockquote cite="mid9189E684DF10774ABD51EA355025DBAE0AF07C@OSTMAIL03VS4.ad.dot.gov" type="cite"><blockquote cite="mid9189E684DF10774ABD51EA355025DBAE0AEF10@OSTMAIL03VS4.ad.dot.gov" type="cite"><pre wrap="">Ron Melancon,<br /><br />Your inquiry has been sent to me for reply. Please see attached for<br />statistics on crashes, fatalities, and persons injured in crashes<br />involving a passenger vehicle with a trailing unit from 2002 through<br />2006. The 2006 final and 2007 data have not yet been released.<br />Please note that our data does not indicate the cause of a crash so we<br />cannot say that these crashes occurred because of a loose trailer. The<br />numbers only indicate the presence of these vehicles in the crash.<br /><br /><br />In 2004, an estimated 65,000 crashes involving a passenger vehicle with<br />a trailing unit occurred. Crashes involving a passenger vehicle with a<br />trailing unit resulted in 422 fatalities and an estimated 27,000 persons<br />injured. An estimated 47,000 crashes involving passenger vehicles with<br />a trailing unit resulted in property damage only. The 2004 fatal crash<br />and fatality numbers have been updated since these figures were reported<br />(see MELANCON.PDF for finalized figures).<br /><br />The figures used in the above statements were extracted from PVTOW03.PDF<br />and PVTOW04.PDF. These figures have since been updated - refer to<br />MELANCON.PDF for most current data.<br /><br />We hope you find the information useful.<br /><br />Control: ES08-005001<br /><br />Tonja Lindsey<br />Program Analyst<br />US Department of Transportation<br />National Highway Traffic Safety Administration National Center for<br />Statistics and Analysis Office of Traffic Records and Analysis/DRID<br />NVS-424, W55-326 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:tonja.lindsey@dot.gov"></a><br /><br /></pre><br /><hr size="4" width="90%"><div class="branch"><table class="SysTitleAndFooterContainer" summary="Page Layout" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="l SystemFooter" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="l SystemFooter" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="l SystemFooter" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="c SystemFooter"><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="r SystemFooter" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div> <div class="branch"> <hr /> <a name="IDX1"></a> <table class="SysTitleAndFooterContainer" summary="Page Layout" width="100%"><tbody> <tr> <td class="c SystemTitle">FATALITIES IN MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC CRASHES INVOLVING</td></tr> <tr> <td class="c SystemTitle">A PASSENGER VEHICLE WITH A TRAILING UNIT</td></tr> <tr> <td class="c SystemTitle">FATALITY ANALYSIS REPORTING SYSTEM (FARS) 2002-2005 FINAL & 2006 ARF</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div> <div align="center"> <table class="Table" summary="Procedure Tabulate: Table 1" rules="all" border="3" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="1" frame="box"> <colgroup><col></colgroup> <colgroup><col></colgroup> <thead> <tr> <th class="c m Header" scope="col">Year</th> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Fatalities</th></tr></thead> <tbody> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2002</th> <td class="r b Data">384</td></tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2003</th> <td class="r b Data">424</td></tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2004</th> <td class="r b Data">426</td></tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2005</th> <td class="r b Data">503</td></tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2006</th> <td class="r b Data">417</td></tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2002-2006</th> <td class="r b Data">2,154</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><br /><table class="SysTitleAndFooterContainer" summary="Page Layout" width="100%"><tbody> <tr> <td class="r SystemFooter" style="font-size: xx-small;">This report was generated by NCSA's Information Services Team, DRID; CMS# 2008.01148 (Control: ES08-005001); MELANCON.SAS; TTL; 08/11/2008 12:53</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div> <div class="branch"> <hr /> <a name="IDX2"></a> <table class="SysTitleAndFooterContainer" summary="Page Layout" width="100%"><tbody> <tr> <td class="c SystemTitle">ESTIMATE OF PERSONS INJURED IN MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC CRASHES INVOLVING</td></tr> <tr> <td class="c SystemTitle">A PASSENGER VEHICLE WITH A TRAILING UNIT</td></tr> <tr> <td class="c SystemTitle">GENERAL ESTIMATES SYSTEM (GES) 2002-2006</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div> <div align="center"> <table class="Table" summary="Procedure Tabulate: Table 1" rules="all" border="3" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="1" frame="box"> <colgroup><col></colgroup> <colgroup><col></colgroup> <thead> <tr> <th class="c m Header" scope="col">Year</th> <th class="c Header" scope="col">Persons Injured</th></tr></thead> <tbody> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2002</th> <td class="r b Data">23,420</td></tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2003</th> <td class="r b Data">24,597</td></tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2004</th> <td class="r b Data">27,232</td></tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2005</th> <td class="r b Data">26,353</td></tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2006</th> <td class="r b Data">20,346</td></tr> <tr> <th class="l t RowHeader" scope="row">2002-2006</th> <td class="r b Data">121,948</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><br /><table class="SysTitleAndFooterContainer" summary="Page Layout" width="100%"><tbody> <tr> <td class="l SystemFooter" style="font-size: xx-small;">NOTE: The above numbers are not actual counts, but estimates of the actual counts. The estimates are calculated from data obtained from</td></tr> <tr> <td class="l SystemFooter" style="font-size: xx-small;">a nationally representative sample of crashes collected through NHTSA's General Estimates System (GES).</td></tr> <tr> <td class="l SystemFooter" style="font-size: xx-small;">Estimates should be rounded to the nearest 1,000.</td></tr> <tr> <td class="c SystemFooter"><br /></td></tr> <tr> <td class="r SystemFooter" style="font-size: xx-small;">This report was generated by NCSA's Information Services Team, DRID; CMS# 2008.01148 (Control: ES08-005001); MELANCON.SAS; TTL; 08/11/2008 12:53</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></blockquote><br /></blockquote><br /></div>Ron Melanconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07856693100553559754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389689911848959294.post-3685548933394165732008-09-17T10:18:00.001-07:002008-09-17T10:21:54.520-07:00My Letter Received From the National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationLetter From The U.S. Department Of Transportation<br />National Highway Traffic Safety Administration<br /><br />Dated August 14, 2008<br /><br />Address 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE<br />Washington, D.C. 20590<br /><br />Dear Mr. Melancon<br /><br />Thank you for your recent letter to Senator Jim Webb regarding the dangers unhitched utility trailers pose to road safety and the lack of government regulations on hitch systems.<br /><br />Your letter has been forwarded to the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and I appreciate the opportunity to respond.<br /><br />Our mission at NHTSA is to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce traffic related health care and other economic costs. The agency develops, promotes, and implements effective educational , engineering, and enforcement programs directed toward reducing preventable tragedies and safety - related economic costs associated with vehicle use and highway travel.<br /><br />This is accomplished in part by establishing end enforcing Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSSs) for motor vehicle and motor vehicle equipment (e.g., tires) and by conducting investigations of consumer complaints about motor vehicle defects, which could lead to a recall.<br /><br />The agency has safety standards for equipment on utility trailers, such as tires and lights, however, <span style="font-weight: bold;">no safety standards exist for utility trailer hitches</span> . Despite the lack of existing standards for utility trailer hitches, all 50 States have regulations regarding the operation of small trailers, such as maximum towing speed, maximum trailer length and width, and weight requiring trailer brakes, among other things. The States also provide guidelines with basic information on how to safely tow a trailer.<br /><br /><br />The Agency's crash databases include data on all fatal crashes and a sampling of non-fatal<br />crashes that occur across the United States. These crash databases are the agency's primary<br />sources for determining the magnitude of a safety problem. In addition, the agency maintains a<br />database on consumer complaints concerning defects of motor vehicles and motor vehicle<br />equipment. These databases contain crashes involving vehicles with reported unhitching of the<br />trailer. Upon closer inspection, we believe that many of these crashes involve consumer error in<br />hitching the trailer to the towing vehicle and thus do not indicate a safety problem with the<br />hitches themselves. The agency will continue to monitor the crash data and consumer complaints<br />on hitches and will take appropriate enforcement action if necessary.<br /><br />I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please contact me or Mr.<br />Ronald L. Medford, Senior Associate Administrator for Vehicle Safety at 202-336-1810.<br /><br />Sincerely yours,<br /><br /><br />James F. Potts, Jr.<br /><br /><br />Ron's notes:<br /><br />I simply do not understand the total lack of understanding of my original letter. My original letter<br />also asked for specific information which this agency did not fulfill.<br /><br />I asked...<br />Someone from NHSTA contacted me and told me to ask you what I need.<br /><br />Back in 2003 you reported that 57,000 crashes involving passenger vehicles towing trailers<br />occur annually, according to a five year averages of accidents analysis by the National Highway<br />Traffic Safety Association. In 2003 alone.. accidents resulted in 364 deaths, 14,484 injuries and<br />40,080 instances of Property Damage. Both the numbers of deaths and property damages increased<br />in 2003 from the previous year.<br /><br />In the year 2004<br /><br />You reported more than 65,000 crashes involving passenger vehicles towing trailers occurred in 2004,<br />jumping nearly 20 percent from the previous year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety<br />Association. In 2004 alone, accidents of vehicles with a trailing unit resulted in 422 deaths, 27,332<br />injuries and 46,737 instances of Property Damage.<br /><br />After 2004 I can't find any more numbers. You stopped keeping track. What I am asking for is the<br />same numbers as above for the year 2005, 2006 and 2007.<br /><br />Why is NHSTA unwilling to provide this information.<br /><br />The letter also indicates "Despite the lack of existing<br />standards for utility trailer hitches, all 50 States have regulations regarding the operation of small<br />trailers, such as maximum towing speed, maximum trailer length and width, and weight<br />requiring trailer brakes, among other things. The States also provide guidelines with basic<br />information on how to safely tow a trailer.<br /><br />They do not!!!!!! They do not address the homemade trailers and here is just two samples from<br />Idaho and Virginia....<br /><br />IDAHO AS REPORTED BY:<br /><br />BY DAVID KENNARD - dkennard@idahostatesman.com<br />Edition Date: 06/12/08<br />"In Idaho, there are no regulations that deal with private individuals and towing," said ISP spokesman Rick Ohnsman.<br /><br />VIRGINIA AS REPORTED BY THE VCU CRASH TEAM<br /><br />"HOWEVER, VIRGINIA STATE CODE IS SILENT AS TO ANY DESIGN OR<br />CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS FOR THOSE VEHICLES OR FOR TOWING<br />CHAINS AND HITCHES. The purpose of this TECHNICAL ALERT is to draw attention<br />to the POTENTIAL dangers of unsafe trailers on roadways in the Commonwealth. In many<br />cases, towed trailers may be in OBVIOUS violations of safety codes that relate to lighting,<br />braking and inspection requirements. Wherever possible, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS<br />should be trained in ways to quickly and easily identify such vehicles. In other cases, a trailer<br />may meet all legal requirements but still be hazardous when used in transportation. THE TEAM<br />RECOMMENDS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, THE DEPARTMENT<br />OF STATE POLICE AND OR MEMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY<br />REVIEW THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE CODE AND CONSIDER WAYS TO<br />IMPROVE SAFETY WITH REGARD TO TRAILERS OPERATED ON VIRGINIA ROADS.<br /><br />Based on my findings 48 States are not following the standards that NHSTA indicated<br />that they do.<br /><br />Once again we have a FEDERAL agency that says they are doing something but in the end are not<br />really doing anything with UTILITY TRAILER regulations. Who is failing who?<br /><br />Examples... When I was a child our car seat was the arm... then the child car seat was invented.<br />At first they were hard to install so they improved.. they added a tether then came the two little<br />hooks in the seat cushion which as made installing much easier.<br /><br />The the Seat Belt.... first it was a lap belt,,, then came the 3 point then now a little light comes on<br />every 5 to 10 seconds to keep reminding you to fasten your belt.<br /><br />The point is we improved to make it easier for the consumer to comply.<br /><br />Quote "Upon closer inspection, we believe that many of these crashes involve consumer error in<br />hitching the trailer to the towing vehicle and thus do not indicate a safety problem with the<br />hitches themselves."<br /><br />So we have NOT improved the hitch systems since 1959. If over 85,000 accidents are occuring now<br />every year because "Consumer ERRORS" then in my book we have a problem.<br /><br />If 85,000 consumers were having accidents with Child's Car seats flying through the car would that<br />not indicate a problem.<br /><br />In closing just like the FDA... with the recent Tomato recalls that took 3 months to find out we have<br />an agency that is not addressing this issue.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br /><br />Ron J. MelanconRon Melanconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07856693100553559754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389689911848959294.post-3143388385950484112008-09-17T10:18:00.000-07:002008-09-17T10:19:27.676-07:00My Letter Received From the National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationLetter From The U.S. Department Of Transportation<br />National Highway Traffic Safety Administration<br /><br />Dated August 14, 2008<br /><br />Address 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE<br />Washington, D.C. 20590<br /><br />Dear Mr. Melancon<br /><br />Thank you for your recent letter to Senator Jim Webb regarding the dangers unhitched utility<br />trailers pose to road safety and the lack of government regulations on hitch systems. Your letter<br />has been forwarded to the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety<br />Administration (NHTSA), and I appreciate the opportunity to respond.<br /><br />Our mission at NHTSA is to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce traffic related health care<br />and other economic costs. The agency develops, promotes, and implements effective<br />educational , engineering, and enforcement programs directed toward reducing preventable<br />tragedies and safety - related economic costs associated with vehicle use and highway travel. This<br />is accomplished in part by establishing end enforcing Federal motor vehicle safety standards<br />(FMVSSs) for motor vehicle and motor vehicle equipment (e.g., tires) and by conducting<br />investigations of consumer complaints about motor vehicle defects, which could lead to a recall.<br /><br />The agency has safety standards for equipment on utility trailers, such as tires and lights,<br />however, no safety standards exist for utility trailer hitches. Despite the lack of existing<br />standards for utility trailer hitches, all 50 States have regulations regarding the operation of small<br />trailers, such as maximum towing speed, maximum trailer length and width, and weight<br />requiring trailer brakes, among other things. The States also provide guidelines with basic<br />information on how to safely tow a trailer.<br /><br /><br />The Agency's crash databases include data on all fatal crashes and a sampling of non-fatal<br />crashes that occur across the United States. These crash databases are the agency's primary<br />sources for determining the magnitude of a safety problem. In addition, the agency maintains a<br />database on consumer complaints concerning defects of motor vehicles and motor vehicle<br />equipment. These databases contain crashes involving vehicles with reported unhitching of the<br />trailer. Upon closer inspection, we believe that many of these crashes involve consumer error in<br />hitching the trailer to the towing vehicle and thus do not indicate a safety problem with the<br />hitches themselves. The agency will continue to monitor the crash data and consumer complaints<br />on hitches and will take appropriate enforcement action if necessary.<br /><br />I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please contact me or Mr.<br />Ronald L. Medford, Senior Associate Administrator for Vehicle Safety at 202-336-1810.<br /><br />Sincerely yours,<br /><br /><br />James F. Potts, Jr.<br /><br /><br />Ron's notes:<br /><br />I simply do not understand the total lack of understanding of my original letter. My original letter<br />also asked for specific information which this agency did not fulfill. <br /><br />I asked...<br />Someone from NHSTA contacted me and told me to ask you what I need.<br /><br />Back in 2003 you reported that 57,000 crashes involving passenger vehicles towing trailers<br />occur annually, according to a five year averages of accidents analysis by the National Highway<br />Traffic Safety Association. In 2003 alone.. accidents resulted in 364 deaths, 14,484 injuries and<br />40,080 instances of Property Damage. Both the numbers of deaths and property damages increased<br />in 2003 from the previous year.<br /><br />In the year 2004<br /><br />You reported more than 65,000 crashes involving passenger vehicles towing trailers occurred in 2004,<br />jumping nearly 20 percent from the previous year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety<br />Association. In 2004 alone, accidents of vehicles with a trailing unit resulted in 422 deaths, 27,332<br />injuries and 46,737 instances of Property Damage.<br /><br />After 2004 I can't find any more numbers. You stopped keeping track. What I am asking for is the<br />same numbers as above for the year 2005, 2006 and 2007.<br /><br />Why is NHSTA unwilling to provide this information.<br /><br />The letter also indicates "Despite the lack of existing<br />standards for utility trailer hitches, all 50 States have regulations regarding the operation of small<br />trailers, such as maximum towing speed, maximum trailer length and width, and weight<br />requiring trailer brakes, among other things. The States also provide guidelines with basic<br />information on how to safely tow a trailer.<br /><br />They do not!!!!!! They do not address the homemade trailers and here is just two samples from<br />Idaho and Virginia....<br /><br />IDAHO AS REPORTED BY:<br /><br />BY DAVID KENNARD - dkennard@idahostatesman.com<br />Edition Date: 06/12/08<br />"In Idaho, there are no regulations that deal with private individuals and towing," said ISP spokesman Rick Ohnsman.<br /><br />VIRGINIA AS REPORTED BY THE VCU CRASH TEAM<br /><br />"HOWEVER, VIRGINIA STATE CODE IS SILENT AS TO ANY DESIGN OR<br />CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS FOR THOSE VEHICLES OR FOR TOWING<br />CHAINS AND HITCHES. The purpose of this TECHNICAL ALERT is to draw attention<br />to the POTENTIAL dangers of unsafe trailers on roadways in the Commonwealth. In many<br />cases, towed trailers may be in OBVIOUS violations of safety codes that relate to lighting,<br />braking and inspection requirements. Wherever possible, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS<br />should be trained in ways to quickly and easily identify such vehicles. In other cases, a trailer<br />may meet all legal requirements but still be hazardous when used in transportation. THE TEAM<br />RECOMMENDS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, THE DEPARTMENT<br />OF STATE POLICE AND OR MEMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY<br />REVIEW THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE CODE AND CONSIDER WAYS TO<br />IMPROVE SAFETY WITH REGARD TO TRAILERS OPERATED ON VIRGINIA ROADS.<br /><br />Based on my findings 48 States are not following the standards that NHSTA indicated<br />that they do.<br /><br />Once again we have a FEDERAL agency that says they are doing something but in the end are not<br />really doing anything with UTILITY TRAILER regulations. Who is failing who?<br /><br />Examples... When I was a child our car seat was the arm... then the child car seat was invented.<br />At first they were hard to install so they improved.. they added a tether then came the two little<br />hooks in the seat cushion which as made installing much easier.<br /><br />The the Seat Belt.... first it was a lap belt,,, then came the 3 point then now a little light comes on<br />every 5 to 10 seconds to keep reminding you to fasten your belt.<br /><br />The point is we improved to make it easier for the consumer to comply.<br /><br />Quote "Upon closer inspection, we believe that many of these crashes involve consumer error in<br />hitching the trailer to the towing vehicle and thus do not indicate a safety problem with the<br />hitches themselves."<br /><br />So we have NOT improved the hitch systems since 1959. If over 85,000 accidents are occuring now<br />every year because "Consumer ERRORS" then in my book we have a problem.<br /><br />If 85,000 consumers were having accidents with Child's Car seats flying through the car would that<br />not indicate a problem.<br /><br />In closing just like the FDA... with the recent Tomato recalls that took 3 months to find out we have<br />an agency that is not addressing this issue.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br /><br />Ron J. MelanconRon Melanconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07856693100553559754noreply@blogger.com0