How NOT to tow; version 3

[localboy]

I just returned from a quick trip down to Vancouver to visit my family. On the way down I-5, past Chehalis, this is what I witnessed:

In my rear view mirror I see either a pickup or an SUV driving fast, passing vehicles by quickly changing lanes from left to middle to right and back. I'm doing ~70mph in the middle lane. As the vehicle catches me it's in the "slow" lane, still passing me and vehicles. I look over and the Dodge SUV is towing a 20+ foot wake board boat on a dual axle trailer. The driver is what I consider a "typical" W/M 20-something; tank top, "tribal" tattoo on his bicep/shoulder and a baseball hat on backwards (of coarse ). As he passes me I note the the trailer has a small nylon winch strap (smaller in width than mine) and NO safety chain or cable on the bow. Then as the guy continued on passsing me (I'm doing 75) I note he also felt stern straps were optional. All at about 85 mph or more. More money (or credit) than brains.

[starcrafttom]

On friday after noons in twenty nine palms all us jar heads would go to the inland boat races. Just 5 miles east of twenty-nine palms is a small bar next to the road with a small raise in the road just before the bar. All the go fast boat from L.A. have to go by here on the way to the river and lake havasu. They are all 20 to 35 ft big engine go fast (65mph+). These boat are being pulled by lowered 4 door dualy trucks with diesels. The cops would park just passed the bar. 85mph to 95 mph tickets where not uncommon and we would see a 100 plus truck every friday. Some of these morons would get a little air on the raise in the road and once a month we would get a roll over or a off the road swerve. No matter of police presents or witness to others accidents will detour the weekly race in the summer.

[Sarge]

If the moron driving 85 mph with a very lightly tied down boat ONLY lost his boat, that would be just fine with me. Unfortunately, you were on the road with him Mark, and if he dropped it in front of you and your family none of us would be laughing.

That's why there are laws...some people are just too stupid to know better and society needs to be protected from them.

[localboy]

Yes, Sarge. My point exactly. I told my wife the very same thing. He, and others like him, are endangering anyone/everyone around them on I-5. When I tow (whether it be my boat or my car hauler) I always restrict my speed to ~60 mph and I drive in the right lane. I merge left if need be based on other vehicles entering the freeway and then I get back over when it can be done safely. It's called the "slow lane" for a reason.

[B~C]

Was headed north on I5 towards Woodland WA one day and I noticed a white line down the center of the fast lane. The line went maybe 1/8 mile straight down the road. As I toped the slight grade in the road I smiled as I saw a goober parked in the median strip trying to load up a wayward jet ski... As long as the knuckleheads confine the wreckage to themself, super.

Note- vehicles with trailers are supposed to observe the commercial truck speed limits & must stay out of the far left lane when there are three lanes....at least that was what the policeman told me some years back.

[patrick and linda]

not sure how to interpret this, however an odd accident happened this morning in one of our local communities, here in cincinnati. it appears a rumpke garbage truck went left of center and struck an on coming utility truck head on. the driver of the utility truck was killed. the utility truck was caring a ladder and 2" x 8" x 8' lumber on it's roof. when the collision occurred the ladder and lumber went thru the garbage truck's windshield, killing the garbage truck driver.
http://www.wlwt.com/slideshow/19576893/detail.html?taf=cin
will the company who own's the utility truck be sued for wrongful death of the garbage truck driver who had caused this accident. don't be surprised if they do, did they have the ladder and lumber property secured to the roof? if not, it will be a mess.
pat