Crib Recall Post Sparks Defective Trailer Comment From Concerned Citizen
Posted by
Staff WriterSeptember 23, 2007 12:27 PMFellow InjuryBoard Blogger, Milwaukee accident attorney David Lowe, recently posted a notification that 1 million Simplicity baby cribs were recalled. A reader here in Virginia found David's post and contacted us regarding his concern about another dangerous product - unsafe trailers on Virginia highways. We are publishing his letter at his request:
Dear concerned:With regards to the baby crib recall, we now have a massive problem with another breakdown. This situation took 2 years to follow through and I believe less than 5 children died as a result. The delay is a direct result of the lobby interests that erode our government agencies oversight.
I guess that Mattel must have designed the crib and what will happen the company will travel to china and apologize. The same situation exists with the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration. In this case I have been able to determine that over 400 people a year are killed due to utility trailers that come unhitched and are in disrepair I.E. non working taillights. They are so powerful that in Virginia the law states that all trailers over 3,000 pounds need to be inspected every year. So what do they do? They make them just under 3,000 pounds so they range between 2,990 and 2,998. They are also so powerful that they pay Delegate Pollard $3,200 in campaign money and Delegate Whitman $5,000 over the past two years to destroy my law and prevent further requirements to these trailers.
What ever happened to doing good; why do we have to wait so long for something to be done? They are even so powerful they can suppress an accident that happened on the Bay Bridge on May 10, 2007 that killed 3 people and injured 7 that tied up traffic for 8 hours. Two of the victims were a Father and Son who were volunteer fireman. Why else would our government ignore a quote from the VCU Crash Team that was published over 1 and 1/2 years ago? Go here to view the report. Here is the quote:
"In Summary, this crash was caused when a homemade trailer detached from the pick up that towed it. It struck a Cadillac traveling in the opposing lanes of traffic, fatally injuring the driver. Trailers are a special class of vehicle and all are subject to some requirements regarding lights and chains. While the Code exempts some smaller trailers, those designed to carry over 3000 pounds are required to have brakes and to be inspected beyond the initial visual confirmations of a VIN plate."
However, Virginia state code is silent as to any design or construction specifications for those vehicles or for towing chains and hitches. The purpose of this technical alert is to draw attention to the potential dangers of unsafe trailers on roadways in the Commonwealth. In many cases, towed trailers may be in OBVIOUS violations of safety codes that relate to lighting, braking and inspection requirements. Wherever possible, Law Enforcement Officers should be trained in ways to quickly and easily identify such vehicles. In other cases, a trailer may meet all legal requirements but still be hazardous when used in transportation.
The team recommends that the department of motor vehicles, the department of state police and or members of the Virginia General Assembly review the current administrative code and consider ways to improve safety with regard to trailers operated on Virginia roads.
I did not write this; the crash team did. Can you guess what's been done so far??? NOTHING!!!!!!! Except to push me away. I asked for help and all I get in return is a revision to my law trying to undo it. This is not the way it should be.
Then why should we expect anything more from our government except pandering to the lobby interest? Oh by the way I'll keep doing the job that our government agencies are suppose to do with no funding. At least I'm not wasting taxpayers' money trying to build a bridge to nowhere. In closing we let babies die in cribs, we let lead paint enter our homes in the form of toys and we let these utility trailers keep coming unhitched and kill our citizens. They even let you build your own with no knowledge on what you are doing so long as it is under the magic 3,000 pounds limit. Isn't that a gas?
Sincerely, Ron J. Melancon
