Lorry Saftey VERY lucky escape at wkend!!!

[perfect11s]

Regarding trailer tyres make sure that you have dedicated trailer tyres fitted and not car tyres as they are not deigned for the weight/moving weight of a horse. Trailer tyres require about 60 p.s.i tyre pressure. If wheel nuts are not tightened correctly or work loose then the same applies to a trailer.
You are always best to have breakdown insurance in place as one may need to use the lorry/trailer in an emergency to take the horse to vet hospital etc.

The wheels on a trailer are different in design to a lorry and as a result less likely to come off,esp if the threads and nuts are clean and oiled and corectly torqued up and not just wound on with an air gun but yes still should be checked and yes the right type of tyres at the corect presure remember underinflation is the number one cause of blow outs!!! stay safe out there ....

 

[muriel]

Please see below - official guidance from DEFRA. Can't argue with that really. I find it very hard to see how the 'general duty of care' requirement is met by towing a loaded lorry in the manner shown in the OP's pictures.

QUOTE:

Welfare of Animals During Transport
Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations. The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 and parallel national legislation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Part 1 – Main Guidance

INTRODUCTION
This guidance relates to Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of
animals during transport and related operations (subsequently referred to as „the
Regulation&#8223. The Regulation is implemented in England by The Welfare of
Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 („WATEO 2006&#8223 and by equivalent
national legislation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This guidance is
issued to aid consistency of understanding of the Regulation and the national
legislation.

1.16 There are no exclusions or exemptions from the general „duty of care‟
obligation (Article 3), which states: “No person shall transport animals or cause
animals to be transported in a way likely to cause injury or undue suffering to
them”. Furthermore, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the eviquivlent legislation in
Scotland and Northern Ireland) introduces a „duty of care‟ responsibility on all
owners and keepers of animals to ensure their animals‟ welfare needs are being met.

Breakdown vehicles
1.17 Breakdown vehicle operators attending vehicles carrying animals that have
broken down or been involved in a road traffic accident should not attempt to
move the vehicle with animals on board if it cannot be repaired at roadside…
1.19 In the unlikely event that a vehicle has to be moved by a recovery operator
to the nearest suitable place of destination, it is suggested that the recovery
vehicle operator is accompanied (where possible) by the transporter and that the
vehicle is not moved by means of a suspended tow.


Sadly, it will take a serious accident to stop vehicles being recovered in this manner. I wonder what DEFRA will have to say then - as they are well aware this is going on. I would say they are in part responsible as they seem to be refusing to act to enforce (or even to promote awareness of) their own legislation.

 

[Ancient Hacker]

After all that's been said, I have only one comment: WELL DONE to the OP for sharing her experience with us, that others may avoid the same error. She may well have saved one of us from potential disaster by admitting her faults. Hats off to her.

 

[Cuffey]

Actually I agree with Lomond, I also think it was irresponsible to attempt the journey under the circumstances.
.

If you check back to the OPs first post you will see she had no choice--the YO did a midnight flit and left her horse (on full livery) without care. But that is another story!!!!!!! Some angry and upset people in my area who have been badly let down.

 

[madalicedj]

Hello peeps.
Just off phone from insurance company who contacted me regarding service.
Now before you al snort in disbelife. 1 they were not calling for a rating but as they had heard back from subcontractors about how case was handled n were appaulled to say the least!
Spoke to a v nice guy who says they can not apologise enough and they are continuing to investigate the companyies hired in recovery.
Fair enough folks. nice to know they are dealing with how things were handled. Case is ongoing...

 

[Suechoccy]

Glad you are all OK after that! Must of been horrible!

Also for those of you that don't understand why they didn't move the horse, its because to move a horse on a motorway they HAVE to close off all lanes going both ways before they can unload a horse from a box for safety reasons. This happened to my friend who had 3 horses on board when her wheel came off, thankfully all were OK and they managed to get them all home safely!

Echo. If the wheels hadn't fallen off, your journey would have been uneventful and nothing unusual. The lorry is serviced regularly so you wouldn't expect the nuts to come undone. **** happens. You dealt with it at the time, you had breakdown cover. You and neddy got home safely. The authorities are always going to be very reluctant to unload/reload livestock on any main road, let alone a motorway. The risk of the livestock escaping and causing a road traffic accident, even if the police have closed the motorway, is big and real, so if they can keep the livestock in its original box and tow that box home somehow, then that's always the safest option all things considered.
Don't beat yourself up. Let it go.
Those yellow wheelnut things are good, we often see them on the HGVs going up and down the A14. Didn't know they came in smaller sizes too ... I feel a shopping spree coming on!

 

[madalicedj]

Ok I'm going to have to say it...... I think the OP is completely barmy for travelling that distance, with the weather forecast being so bad for saturday night into Sunday morning, never mind in a 25 year old lorry and no prearranged stop off points if the weather got too bad.
The OP said she didn't set off until 3pm Saturday, hardly the best time for setting off a long distance journey with snow storms over most of the country....! I seem to remember a mercy call posted on this forum at 4am Sunday morning for someone(her) broken down on a motorway?
I'm really pleased, that her horse and her got back safely, but really WTF was she thinking off...? Look at the photos of the conditions when she was setting off, sorry but I call it just plain irresponsible.

must add i got 1st train up frm london but due to a derailment we were delayed. The roads were all clear except lane frm yard. The second pic is when i hit high ground penrith areaish once on low gorind roads cleared. so i didnt plan nor set off in a blizzard. My timings were ok had the wheel not fallen off but then i should have been more careful to check. I didnt and i almost paid the price for it
I was just desperate to get my babe home after the yard he was on had let us down so badly effectivly doing a moonlite flit and had not been caring for any horses never mind mine as agreed if at all really.
why do people think a long trip transporting is dangerous etc. I say if you look for trouble you will find it.
Its like thinking walking a mile etc is REALLY far.
Well im still running(badly n slowly) just over 3miles and plan to do my 3rd bupa 10 in May 7-8 months preg.
Liek that old ad or similar dont make a drama out of a crisis.

 

[cyberhorse]

Apparently wheel nut pointers are made for a variety of wheel nut sizes according to Digraph LTD

I have seen them on caravans so I would imagine you'd be able to get them for a trailer.

Glad to hear all was OK despite this issue, excellent to post and prompt a few people to invest in the pointers! As far as your second photo is concerned; there was indeed snow around these parts, but the motorways were well gritted, clear and safe to drive on as the snow had fallen slowly and the HA were on the ball. I would have taken my truck onto motorways in this region on the day if I had an urgent need to.