On The Road Again

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Last week I was driving north on Hwy, 400, right in the mix of the traditional Friday afternoon summertime escape of cottagers, campers and those simply just trying to get home, and I couldn't help but notice the volume of rental trucks and rental trailers journeying up the highway.

Not being a cottager I guess I should realize that with the price of gas hitting $1.35 a litre these days, many people are favouring smaller more fuel-efficient cars, which of course have less trunk and back seat space for all the cottage and camping gear. Couple that with June being the preferential time of the year to move residences and all of a sudden there's an influx of rentals all over the highway.

What really caught my attention was the mechanical condition of some of those trailers.

Some had obviously spent a long winter under a tarp somewhere covered in ice, snow and then water, rusting to the core only to be brought out for one quick springtime trip up north, shaking and bouncing, while others had been clearly rented from commercial suppliers. So the question arises, what liabilities may be incurred by the renter if the vehicle proves to be unsafe?

Many of the larger and more credible rental agencies strive to ensure their vehicles are well maintained and safe for customers to rent. After all, customers should have an expectation a company in the business of putting vehicles on a public roadway has the mindset to maintain their fleet and ensure public safety.

That being said, the Highway Traffic Act is explicit when it comes to the road worthiness of trailers or any other vehicle for that matter. In addition to anything one may choose to rent in the short term, there are also thousands of privately owned trailers out there, licensed to carry various forms of cargo including boats, jet skis, furniture or whatever else one can think of stuffing on board.

Some of the more common infractions involving trailers include: improper or unsafe tires, improper lighting, improper hitches and secondary attachments, insecure loads and excessively overhanging loads. Section 84 of the Highway Traffic Act deals with unsafe vehicles and not only gives police officers the authority to charge both the driver and the owner when an unsafe vehicle is operated on a highway, it also gives police officers the authority to remove the licence plates and impound any vehicle found to be in bad shape.

While the primary responsibility lies with the rental agency to ensure rental vehicles such as trucks and trailers are safe, the renter should always do a pre-trip inspection before leaving the company's parking lot.

Check to make sure all the tires have good tread and there are no cuts or bulges to the sidewalls.

For rental motor vehicles, with the engine running, turn the steering wheel from complete left to right lock and back again to check for excessive play, generally one to two inches of play on the steering wheel is acceptable, anything else may indicate a serious steering problem. Also be sure to check the brake pedal (with engine running) to make sure there is no excessive travel when the pedal is depressed. If the pedal stops close to the floorboard or touches, the brakes are faulty and the vehicle is unsafe.

These are some of the basic roadside checks conducted by police officers when evaluating the road worthiness of a vehicle.

If you are in doubt, insist upon a replacement vehicle or trailer before you leave the lot. If you experience any mechanical difficulties when driving a rental vehicle or towing a rental trailer that leads you to suspect an unsafe condition exists, stop in a safe place and call the rental company for assistance.

The same applies to privately owned trailers. Don't tow a heap of junk that's in such poor condition that a mishap is inevitable. Rent a properly maintained and well-secured trailer that gets you safely to your destination.