Securing a horse in a car's trunk: Proper methods for transporting equine cargo
In the Aachen region of North Rhine-Westphalia, a woman found herself in hot water with the authorities after a traffic stop on September 1st. The woman, who was driving a pink car, was discovered to have a pony in the trunk of her vehicle during the stop.
The police deemed the pony's transportation method as improper and prohibited the woman from continuing her journey. According to the Aachen police, ponies should be transported in horse transporters, not in car trunks.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper cargo securement. Unsecured or improperly secured items can develop 50 times their own weight in a frontal collision at 50 km/h, as crash tests have shown. Inadequate cargo securement can lead to costly accidents.
To ensure safety, heavy objects should be placed at the bottom of the trunk, and lighter ones on top. Cargo must not protrude above the top of the backrest. It should be evenly distributed and form-fitting without gaps. A safety partition grid or net should separate the passenger compartment from the cargo area. Seat belts on the backseat should be fastened even if no one is sitting there.
Moreover, the pony's sudden weight increase in a crash could pose a life-threatening situation. If a pony weighing 150 kg is in the car during a 50 km/h crash, it could suddenly weigh up to 7.5 tons.
The woman believed her pony was securely fastened with a rope tied to a metal hook in the car. However, the pony was found to be in the trunk of the car with a rug on the folded-down backseat. A warning triangle, vest, and first aid kit should be readily available for such situations.
After this incident, the Aachen police are reminding drivers about the importance of proper cargo securement. They urge drivers to better inform themselves about the rules regarding transporting animals and the proper methods for securing cargo in their vehicles.
The woman, who refused a warning fine of 35 euros on the spot, is now facing a fine procedure. It is always advisable to comply with the rules to avoid such situations. The Aachen police are committed to ensuring the safety of all road users and will continue to enforce these rules.
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