When you’re towing a trailer, it’s extremely important to drive with great care. If you don’t, you’ll not only be risking the safety of your passengers but also others on the road as reckless driving can lead to a combination disturbance.
A combination disturbance is improper handling, whipping, sway, over-steering, or any other deviation of your tow vehicle or trailer from its intended path. Combination disturbances are a result of one or more causes, including:
- Improper loading
- Steering inputs
- Excessive speed
- Crosswinds
- Passing vehicles
- Rough roads
While it’s best to do everything you can to prevent a combination disturbance, such as maintaining a speed of 55 miles per hour or less, anticipating stops and braking early, you need to know what to do if you experience a combination disturbance. To control the situation, remember to:
- Let off the gas pedal. You should never increase your speed in an attempt to control a combination disturbance.
- Do not apply your brakes. Braking during a combination disturbance can lead to loss of control of your tow vehicle or a crash.
- Hold your steering wheel in a straight-ahead position. Don’t try to control the combination disturbance by turning your steering wheel. Steering during combination disturbances can also lead to loss of control of your tow vehicle or a crash.
Once the combination disturbance has stopped, it’s important to find a safe place to pull over and stop. Once you’ve stopped, have any additional passengers get out of the tow vehicle and stand a safe distance from the road. Then,
- Check your cargo to ensure the load hasn’t shifted. If so, be sure to rearrange so that your trailer is loaded heavier in the front.
- Inspect all tires to ensure they are properly inflated and that all lug nuts are tight.
- Make sure your trunk or rear cargo area of your tow vehicle isn’t overloaded.
- When you begin towing again, maintain a speed no greater than 55 miles per hour.
If you don’t resolve a combination disturbance right away, you could wind up in a dangerous situation that could put yourself and others in harm’s way. Take great care to avoid combination disturbances and always be alert when towing so you can address combination disturbances right away.
Resources:
Pre-Departure Checklist
Guide to Towing
