JanAndBill
Well-known member
A couple that we are friends with in another camping group, came in on Saturday from a trip. They park their trailer at the woman's father's house, in a tight spot. I'm not quite sure the reason for Dad backing in the trailer, but he was. The woman was at the back of the trailer guiding her father and for some reason stepped behind the trailer (I'm assuming to go to the other side). As the father neared the stopping point his foot slipped off the brake and hit the gas, pinning the woman between the back of the trailer and a wall. She sustained several broken ribs, broken collar bone, fractured knee, and internal injuries. She's had 6 hrs of surgery so far and is still in ICU, but it appears she will survive. Had the impact caught her just a couple inches more to the center of the chest, she would not be here today.
This is one of my pet peeves, that I see happening all the time in campgrounds. No matter how many times you tell people DON'T LET ANYONE BEHIND YOUR TRAILER WHEN BACKING, invariable they'll do it. For those who don't know, when backing IT IS THE DRIVER THAT CONTROLS ALL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AND IS THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING THE LOCATION OF PEOPLE AND OBJECTS AROUND HIM AT ALL TIMES. Now it is advisable and convenient to use a spotter but that doesn't remove the responsibility of knowing where your helpers are located. I've always taught helpers that if you can't see the driver in his mirrors he can't see you, and you're in danger. At no time is it acceptable for you to be behind the trailer, unless it is completely stopped and only then at the specific direction of the driver. Despite the fact that we've been at it for years, my DW will still forget and I will lose site of her in my mirrors. It used to result in some harsh words being yelled back and forth, but now that I've mellowed (LOL), I just stop. Eventually she gets the hint and will step out where I can see her.
This is one of my pet peeves, that I see happening all the time in campgrounds. No matter how many times you tell people DON'T LET ANYONE BEHIND YOUR TRAILER WHEN BACKING, invariable they'll do it. For those who don't know, when backing IT IS THE DRIVER THAT CONTROLS ALL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AND IS THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING THE LOCATION OF PEOPLE AND OBJECTS AROUND HIM AT ALL TIMES. Now it is advisable and convenient to use a spotter but that doesn't remove the responsibility of knowing where your helpers are located. I've always taught helpers that if you can't see the driver in his mirrors he can't see you, and you're in danger. At no time is it acceptable for you to be behind the trailer, unless it is completely stopped and only then at the specific direction of the driver. Despite the fact that we've been at it for years, my DW will still forget and I will lose site of her in my mirrors. It used to result in some harsh words being yelled back and forth, but now that I've mellowed (LOL), I just stop. Eventually she gets the hint and will step out where I can see her.