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USRider Provides Safety Tips to Reduce Tire Troubles

Lexington, Ky. (April 1, 2008) – Getting ready to travel involves a lot of preparation for most people. You must plan your route, pack clothes, check the weather, ensure that the car is road worthy, and so on. Traveling with horses adds another set of tasks, such as prepping the horse for shipping, packing feed and supplies for the horse, tow vehicle maintenance, to name a few. A critical item to check before hitting the road is air pressure. This applies to the tires on your tow vehicle tires as well as those on the trailer.

“The number one reason horse owners end up on the side of the road is tire issues,” said Mark Cole, managing member of USRider. With its Equestrian Motor Plan, USRider gives you peace of mind as you travel. USRider's motor plan surpasses other roadside assistance plans by also covering horse vans, horse trailers, tow vehicles and horses.

Flat tires are the leading cause of disablements involving horse trailers. To help those who travel with horses lessen their risk of having tire troubles, USRider offers a variety of suggestions and tips on its website, www.usrider.org.

“As good stewards for our animals, we believe that we can never over-prepare our vehicles when trailering,” said Cole. “Moreover, we have an obligation to maintain our vehicles to avoid putting ourselves, our loved ones and our four-legged friends on the side of the highway because of a disablement.”

Besides having two additional axles, a set of trailer brakes and lighting on your trailer, tow vehicles are classified as “heavy-duty” vehicles – hauling and towing precious cargo – that require commercial standards of maintenance. Moreover, while you can never totally eliminate the risk of a breakdown, by taking the proper steps, you can certainly minimize the risk. To help reduce the risk, USRider offers the following suggestions for preventing accidents related to blowouts and other tire issues.  

§         “Responsible horse owners should know the air pressure requirements for their trailer and tow vehicle tires,” said Cole. Air pressure requirements for horse trailers can be found on the trailer tire itself. For tow vehicles, air pressure requirements can be found in the owner’s manual or on the tire inflation information placard decal, usually located on the driver’s door. Note: all readings are for “maximum cold inflation pressure.”

§         Before every trip, CHECK THE AIR IN YOUR TIRES. It’s important to check the air pressure when the tires are cold since tire pressure changes as tires heat up from travel. Under inflated tires create more resistance and overheat, resulting in a blow-out. Also, be sure to check the spare tire’s air pressure along with other tires. Most blowouts can be avoided by simply maintaining the proper inflation.

§         In addition to enhanced safety and performance aspects, properly inflated tires contribute to increased fuel economy.

§         If you do not own a quality air gauge, purchase one today and LEARN HOW TO USE IT. While responsible owners should be able to check their own air pressure, most national tire chains will check air pressure free of charge.

§         Make sure your tires are roadworthy. Tires can look new and have excellent tread, but they could be old and dry rotted. Tires that are dry-rotted are an accident waiting to happen; they pose significant performance and safety issues. Tires should be replaced every three to five years. When checking tires, don’t forget to inspect the spare as well. In many cases, we find that a member’s spare tire is old, dry rotted, underinflated or otherwise not road worthy, explained Cole.

• Check to make sure you’re using the right type of tire. For example, don’t use a car tire on a horse trailer. Horse trailers require trailer-specific tires. Make certain tires have an adequate load rating for loaded weight of trailer. Also, never use re-tread tires on horse trailer or tow vehicle.
• Invest in good quality tires. “All tires are round and black, but the similarities stop there,” said Cole. “Good tires, like high-quality, Italian leather shoes, only hurt once,” he added, “and that’s when you buy them. Quality tires that are properly inflated will reward you with many miles of trouble-free travel.”
• Be sure to purchase tires from high-volume tire dealers to get “fresh” tires. Purchase tires only with recent manufacture dates. The dealer should be able to provide you with this information from manufacturer/distributor. Low-volume dealers or dealers that do not sell a high volume of trailer tires may have tires for sale that are actually several years old when you buy them. The bottom line: Insist on “fresh” tires.
• Use a tire pressure monitoring system and carry a second spare tire. Keep in mind that a tire pressure monitoring system and carrying a second spare are meant to supplement – not replace – good tire maintenance practices.

A less common disablement, but one that is more difficult to resolve, is wheel bearing failure. To avoid disablements related to wheel bearings, horse owners should service their trailer’s wheel bearings every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. Annual service is recommended regardless of mileage due to moisture buildup, which will seriously diminish the effectiveness of bearing grease and cause early bearing failure. Also, when servicing wheel bearings, make certain that a high-quality, high-temperature wheel bearing grease is used. The use of incorrect grease will lead to bearing failure.

In case of wheel bearing failure, USRider recommends that horse owners purchase and carry a spare set of wheel bearings. “It is much easier to locate a mechanic to make a repair than to have to locate specific axle parts,” added Cole. 

The side of the highway is a dangerous place to be under the best circumstances. If you do have a breakdown, pull as far off the road as possible to a safe place. If you can “limp” to a safer place – do so. Chances are driving on a damaged tire for a short distance will not damage your wheel.

“Even if it does damage your wheel, wheels are inexpensive and a small price to pay for the safety of you and your horses, as well as the safety of the service provider who comes out to help you,” added Cole.

USRider provides roadside assistance and towing services along with other travel-related benefits to its members through the Equestrian Motor Plan. It includes standard features such as flat-tire repair, battery assistance and lock-out services, plus towing up to 100 miles and roadside repairs for tow vehicles and trailers with horses, emergency stabling, veterinary referrals and more. For more information about the USRider Equestrian Motor Plan, visit www.usrider.org online or call 1-800-844-1409.

For additional safety tips, visit the Equine Travel Safety Area on the USRider website at www.usrider.org .

News Release (06/07/07)    For more information, call (800) 844-1409

USRider Shares Tip with Horse Owners to Avoid Lockout

Lexington, Ky. (June 7, 2007) – With advancing technology, life continues to become a bit easier. For example, we no longer have to walk across the room to change channels on the television. We can cook a meal in a matter of seconds with the microwave. We stay in touch with our friends, loved ones and business colleagues with the ever-handy cell phone. And we can open or lock our car doors by simply pushing a button on a key, thanks to wireless technology.

However, all this gadgetry occasionally has some unexpected consequences that can create quite a hassle. The hassle that USRider would like to warn its members about is the potential of being locked out of a vehicle. This can happen when two very common technological conveniences get too close – your cell phone may scramble the electronics in your key fob.

Instances of this scrambling have already been reported with the 2007 Nissan Altima and Infinity G35. It’s likely that other automobile manufacturers will encounter this glitch as well. In many cases, if a fob is erased, there is no way to repair it. The motorist will have to purchase an entirely new factory key fob, which can cost several hundred dollars and have the vehicle towed to the dealer to be re-programmed to start – unless the spare key is readily available. 

So if your ignition fob is scrambled, you could be stuck. You could always use the spare fob, but that will most likely be left at home, far away from where your vehicle is.  When the electronics in your key fob are scrambled, the key can still be used to unlock the door and turn the ignition; however, the vehicle will not start – nor will the wireless features of the key work, such as locking the door, popping the trunk, etc.

The electronic device in keys was developed to minimize the possibility of vehicle theft due to tampering with the starter lock mechanism.

Additionally, it is advisable to handle these new high-tech keys with care, as they can also become inoperable when dropped.

Being stranded unexpectedly is a great inconvenience at best. It can be downright dangerous if you are locked out or if your vehicle is left inoperable in an undesirable area. These situations are particularly hazardous when if you are traveling with your horses.

“The potential to become unexpectedly locked out of a vehicle obviously creates a safety and security issue for our members,” said Mark Cole, managing member of USRider, “not to mention a huge (expensive) inconvenience.”

To help avoid being locked out of your vehicle, it is suggested that you keep the fob and your cell phone at least one inch apart.

Through its Equestrian Motor Plan, USRider offers nationwide roadside assistance designed especially for equestrians. The plan includes standard features such as flat-tire repair, battery assistance and lockout services, plus towing up to 100 miles and roadside repairs for tow vehicles and trailers with horses, emergency stabling, veterinary and farrier referrals, and more.

For more information about USRider and more equine trailer safety tips, visit the USRider website at www.usrider.org, or call (800) 844-1409.

 NEWS RELEASE (07/18/2007)

USRider Reminds Drivers, Dangers of Using Cell Phones While Driving

Lexington, Ky. (July 18, 2007) – These days it seems almost everyone has a cell phone. In fact, more than 80 percent of Americans do have cell phones. According to the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, more than 236 million people in the United States subscribed to such wireless communication devices as cell phones as of May 2007, compared with approximately 4.3 million in 1990. These connected people can be seen talking and sending text messages while they’re out shopping, dining, waiting in line and even while driving.

Overhearing someone’s private conversation can be irritating when you’re trying to enjoy a nice dinner, and it’s distracting when trying to watch a movie. However, those private conversations can spell danger when they distract someone who’s trying to talk or – even worse – text while driving an automobile.

“Driving is an activity that demands close attention,” said Mark Cole, managing member for USRider. “In addition to watching what you’re doing behind the wheel, you also have to keep an eye on other drivers. To do this, you must keep your focus on driving, which means keep the phone calls to a minimum. And, under no circumstances should anyone be sending text messages while driving.”

Through its Equestrian Motor Plan, USRider offers nationwide roadside assistance especially for equestrians. The plan includes standard features such as flat-tire repair, battery assistance and lockout services, plus towing up to 100 miles and roadside repairs for tow vehicles and trailers with horses, emergency stabling, veterinary and farrier referrals, and more.

Increased  reliance on cell phones has led to a rise in the number of people who use the devices while driving. The most recent survey of dangerous driver behavior was released in January 2007 by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. The survey of 1,200 drivers found that 73 percent talk on cell phones while driving. Unfortunately, countless others are beginning to use cell phones to send text messages while driving.

Driving while using a cell phone can pose a serious distraction and impair driver performance. Using a cell phone while driving poses two dangers. First, drivers must take their eyes off the road whi

dialing or texting. With their eyes off the road, drivers cannot see what’s happening ahead. So if they’re approaching trouble, they won’t be able to take steps to avert a collision. Texting is an even more dangerous distraction because drivers take their eyes off the road for extended periods to type out messages. The second danger is that people can become so absorbed in their conversations that they don’t pay attention to the road.

For these reasons, USRider urges drivers to use extreme caution when driving, especially when trailering horses.

Since the first law was passed in New York in 2001 banning handheld cell-phone use while driving, there has been debate as to the exact nature and degree of hazard. The latest research shows that while using a cell phone when driving may not be the most dangerous distraction, it is by far the most common factor in crashes and near-crashes attributed to driver distraction.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) doesn’t have specific data but on the number of crashes caused by cell phone use specifically; however, it’s estimated that driver distraction from all sources contributes to 25 percent of all police-reported traffic crashes. In The 100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study, a study conducted by NHTSA and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, it was found that almost 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds of the event. The study, released in April 2006, found that the most common distraction is the use of cell phones, followed by drowsiness.

USRider advises drivers to make every effort to move to a safe place off of the road before using a cell phone. However, in an emergency, a driver must use his or her judgment regarding the urgency of the situation and the necessity to use a cell phone while driving.