Jim Trogdon, a former DOT engineer who now works as a General Assembly staffer specializing in transportation matters, says the Highway Patrol and the governor's office have it all wrong.
Legislation to allow nighttime towing of boats and trailers up to 10 feet wide on roads often less than 19 feet wide will NOT cause more crashes and deaths, he says. Instead, he predicts FEWER crashes because more boats will be hauled in darkness, when there's less traffic, and for other reasons.
In e-mail to me, Trogdon says:
Actually, I will predict now, that if boats are allowed to move weekends and nights crash rates will go down - currenly 65% of crashes involving boats involve another vehicle - if boats are allowed to use off peak times, number of crashes will be reduced (probably by 25-30%).
An Easley aide warned last week that the governor might refuse to sign the bill unless it was changed to ban towing of wide boats and trailers after dark (something no other southeastern state allows). The Senate is scheduled to vote on the measure today. We'll see this afternoon whether there is an effort to make the change requested by the governor's office and the Highway Patrol.
Trogdon says they worry too much about big boats on dark roads.
With the addition of adequate illumination, observation of these boat trailers will actually be better at night than in the daylight hours.
The trailers themselves would still be just 8.5 feet wide, so they would stay on the right side of the road, but the width of the boat itself might hang across the center line. When a boat driver sees another car approaching, Trogdon says, he'll ease to the right to avoid collision.
As opposing traffic approaches, hauler will ease his right trailer tire to drive on right edgeline and will easily keep 10 foot beam inside centerline.
Cross your fingers and hope he's right.
Bruce Siceloff reports on traffic and transportation. A News & Observer reporter, editor and blogger since 1976, he took over the
Comments
Trogdon's prediction based on fact
Thu, 07/17/2008 - 16:11 — aeiouyUnlike the NCSHP, which is basing its objection upon speculation and loss of ticket revenue, Trogdon's prediction is based on FACTS in the form of three years worth of NCDOT statistics. Thank you, Jim Trogdon, for standing up and supporting facts instead of hype and speculation
I will predict now, that
Tue, 07/15/2008 - 21:48 — Anonymous (not verified)I will predict now, that based upon the logic in that e-mail, a future autopsy will reveal Jim Trogdon's brainpan is reduced (probably by 25-30% of normal adult).
Assumes both drivers are paying attention
Tue, 07/15/2008 - 16:19 — Anonymous (not verified)This concept is like Communism - good in theory, bad in practice...
The position is based on several precarious assumptions:
~ Both drivers are fully awake and alert (less likely at night).
~ Neither driver is talking/texting on a cell phone or playing with a GPS.
~ The boat/trailer driver is considerate enough to move right.
~ The boat/trailer is skilled enough to position the right tire of the trailer exactly where they want it (guessing only a +/- 6 inch margin of error?).
~ There's actually more than an inch of shoulder on the road.
~ There's nothing blocking the right side of the road, like a disabled vehicle.