Are these tow trailers really safe in the dark?

[Kudoscycles]

I was following,in a car, a bike with a tow trailer,with a child inside. It was dark and drizzle weather,the like of which is common these days.
To be fair the bike was well lit and the rider had a very reflective jacket but the little trailer was so low that it was easy to miss it.
With a high bonnet car the elevation is such that the trailer goes out of visual and its easy to concentrate on the rider not the trailer.
Maybe a red lit frame on the back of the trailer raised to eye level would be good.
Maybe I have done just too many risk assessments and being a grandad makes you an instant health and safety expert but I personally would not feel comfortable with a child in these little trailers behind me. The Dutch Cargo type bike with the children in front of the rider would seem preferable to me.
Interested in others opinions.
Dave
Kudoscycles

 

[Jeremy]

A lady down the road from me has a double one of these that she uses to take her kids to school. It has a flexible mast at the back with a fluorescent flag at the top, presumably to help drivers see the trailer. I've no idea if there are lights on it as well, but would have thought that it would be easy enough to put a small LED up on the mast.

I agree that the Dutch type seem a bit better from a safety perspective, but they have other problems, including handling and braking issues, I believe, and that's less than acceptable in a country with steep hills.

 

[SRS]

Dave

We have a crossbar seat but also a child trailer at times.
The trailer is only ever used away from the road, cycle and coastal paths only.

I agree, these trailers are dangerous if used on road, day or night.
Not only a very real danger of being rear ended but also places the child at exhaust pipe level.

I feel much happier with our daughter on the cross bar. However, not so practical with more than one child.

 

[RobF]

I saw one of these trailers part company with the bike.

There was no traffic around and the trailer crashed into the ditch on the nearside.

No real harm done, but lots of tears from the child.

 

[amigafan2003]

If the trailer has a light attached to the rear then I can't see how they are any more of a hazard in the dark over a normal cycle.

 

[SRS]

If the trailer has a light attached to the rear then I can't see how they are any more of a hazard in the dark over a normal cycle.

I was once rear ended by a van whilst sat at stop lights. The rear wheel of the bike went under the front bumper.

I was plastered on the windscreen. Need I say more other than this was during daylight.

 

[amigafan2003]

I was once rear ended by a van whilst sat at stop lights. The rear wheel of the bike went under the front bumper.

I was plastered on the windscreen. Need I say more other than this was during daylight.

That was kind of my point. You got hit riding a bike - trailer or not has nothing to do with it.

If a child was on a normal bike, they still be about the same height, so I can't see what difference being in a trailer or riding their own bike makes - other than you can be confident they are in the right place on the road. In fact, I notice when towing a trailer I get LOADS more room and respect off cars than if I'm on the bike on my own.

I love kid trailers - wish there were more of them on the roads.

 

[SRS]

That was kind of my point. You got hit riding a bike - trailer or not has nothing to do with it.

If a child was on a normal bike, they still be about the same height, so I can't see what difference being in a trailer or riding their own bike makes - other than you can be confident they are in the right place on the road. In fact, I notice when towing a trailer I get LOADS more room and respect off cars than if I'm on the bike on my own.

I love kid trailers - wish there were more of them on the roads.

We love the kiddie trailers too but I,ll keep my kid on the crossbar and the spuds in the trailer when on the road. Cycle paths are different matter.

 

[TobyAnscombe]

Just bought our first kiddie trailer (Chariot Cougar2) but will stick a couple of the 1W rear LED lights onto the handlebars when I am out and about - even during the daytime. Most of the roads around the village will probably be ok but will be mainly using it around Epping Forest or on other trails.

Hoping that my experience will be the same as AmigaFan's....

 

[amigafan2003]

Yeah, I've never had a problem - racked up thousands of miles with our trailers. Eldest is now to old so he goes on his own bike, sandwiched between the wife in front and me with the trailer and two kids in it at the rear.

 

[mike killay]

I agree that they can get difficult to see at night. But so do boats on trailers etc.
The answer is a lighting board with plenty of lights.

 

[hech]

Aha, and therein lies the truth of the matter, the diminishing marginal utility of kids. Amigafan claims to have three thus putting him 0.8 over the national average of 2.2. This explains his fast and loose attitudes towards child safety and hysterical parent syndrome, he feels he can afford it being in surplus. Why the wife is allowed to ride shotgun out front is perhaps a different matter, about which I'm sure we can form our own conclusions!

 

[amigafan2003]

Aha, and therein lies the truth of the matter, the diminishing marginal utility of kids. Amigafan claims to have three thus putting him 0.8 over the national average of 2.2. This explains his fast and loose attitudes towards child safety and hysterical parent syndrome, he feels he can afford it being in surplus. Why the wife is allowed to ride shotgun out front is perhaps a different matter, about which I'm sure we can form our own conclusions!

That's exactly it - I effectively have one spare!

And my wife has a nice a**e, so it's nice view when bringing up the rear, if you'll excuse the pun!

 

[funkylyn]

As the mother of 4 and with 5 grandchildren, I can honestly say that the sight of young children in a cycle trailer ON THE ROAD......brings terror and horror to my heart.......

Is it really worth the risk ......REALLY ??

Personally, I would say, no way, I wouldnt even risk my dogs in one on a road with traffic, you can try to be as safe as you like...... but you cannot depend on other drivers on the road and whilst we all, as adults, make a decision every day to take risks, thats part of our lives as adults to calculate risk factors and take them, but to put your children, who are not capable of taking that decision themselves, at such an increased and unnecessary risk of harm in this day,age and traffic, purely in the name of leisure, is to me a totally unacceptable one.

And to say add lights, flags ??...........come on guys, thats an irreplaceable cargo you are carrying there, please keep them safe and get them off the road.

On a traffic free cycle path its a different story, they are a great way to introduce young children to the fun of being out and about cycling with their parent/s without the risk of severe injury or death in road traffic.


Lynda

 

[Old_Dave]

+1 with Lyn, away from any traffic is ok


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[amigafan2003]

Yeah, but how many people load their kids into cars? And how many kids die in cars every year? Is a child in a trailer at increase risk of being injured or killed as opposed to travelling in a car? The stats suggest not.

Perceived risk and actual risk are vastly different things.

purely in the name of leisure

Not just leisure though - many people use a bike + trailer as the primary, and sometimes the sole, form of transportation.

 

[funkylyn]

Yeah, but how many people load their kids into cars?

And how many kids die in cars every year?


Perceived risk and actual risk are vastly different things.

Oh, come ON..........you cannot possibly compare the two surely......if a car hits a car with children in I think they usually stand more chance of survival than if the same car hit them in a flimsy bike trailer....

Normal risk and totally unnecessary risk are vastly different things......especially when it involves young children.....

Lynda

 

[Old_Dave]

Good questions... but It's a very difficult sum to do.,

Minor impacts in a car are far less a chance of being fatal if protected in a car than on a bike

How many fatal accidents are in cars per day (that children could of been involved in, had they been in the car) per number of journeys and miles a day.

Vs

How many fatal accidents are involving bikes (that children could of been in a trailer) per number of journeys and miles a day

It's far to complicated a sum for me to do, but as you say it's all about perceived


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[amigafan2003]

Oh, come ON..........you cannot possibly compare the two surely......if a car hits a car with children in I think they usually stand more chance of survival than if the same car hit them in a flimsy bike trailer....

You're right but you're ignoring the fact that being in a car (and doing the extra miles) in the first instance makes an accident more likely.

Good questions... but It's a very difficult sum to do.,

Minor impacts in a car are far less a chance of being fatal if protected in a car than on a bike

How many fatal accidents are in cars per day (that children could of been involved in, had they been in the car) per number of journeys and miles a day.

Vs

How many fatal accidents are involving bikes (that children could of been in a trailer) per number of journeys and miles a day

It's far to complicated a sum for me to do, but as you say it's all about perceived


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I've got the numbers somewhere but there are more fatalities and serious injuries per mile with children travelling in a car than there are with children riding a bike or being towed in a trailer.

So yes, I can state that it's more dangerous for children to travel by car than towed in a tralier behind a bike. And I've already stated that drivers are VERY aware when confronted with a trailer + child - this probably affects the stats a great deal.

Lets not forget - you can add closing speed to car accidents - i.e. 30mph + 30mph = 60mph. Closing speed generally isn't an issue in cycle accidents.

 

[Kudoscycles]

Amigafan...I am prepared to ignore but not approve of your attitude to riding an illegal bike along the promenade,I note your anarchistic attitudes to most rules and authority,I realise you want to be seen as some bucaneer or rebel in our society, but I cannot believe that you would look upon the site of one of your kids bloodily squashed between the back cycle wheel and a car and say,no problem thats a disposable one,I've got 2 more.
I am sure your wife would be sickened by such a posting.
It is regrettable that kids die in cars but we have done so much to improve the safety of children in cars and there are a lot of cars relative to these kiddy trailers.
After your posting I have rethought these trailers and really they are mobile kiddies coffins on the road.
Dave
Kudoscycles