PHOENIX and ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 23,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of
Motor Vehicle Administrators® (AAMVA) has incorporated U-Haul Safe
Trailering® best practices in the latest version its Model Driver's
License Manual, which is used as part of its Noncommercial Model
Driver Testing System (NMDTS).
AAMVA develops and maintains NMDTS for use by motor vehicle
agencies to assist with testing new drivers.
The updated AAMVA Model Driver's License Manual includes a
section dedicated to safe trailering, with content provided by DIY
moving and self-storage industry leader from its acclaimed U-Haul
Safe Trailering Driver Education program. The program offers
trailering education to the North American public for the purposes
of preventing injuries, hazards and fatalities on our roadways.
"Trailering activities have broadened each year, and the need
for safety education has increased accordingly," stated
Joe Cook, U-Haul Vice President of
Government Relations. "We are proud to partner with AAMVA to
provide practical trailering information and basic guidelines for
new drivers. Nearly everyone is exposed to trailer towing in one
form or another. Understanding the elements involved is vital for
safety. With U-Haul Safe Trailering content adopted into AAMVA best
practices, jurisdictions can convey necessary information to new
drivers before they begin their tow."
U-Haul® participation and cooperation with
AAMVA spans decades in what began as an effort to
facilitate vehicle registration reciprocity that would be fair to
the transportation industry and member jurisdictions. Since 1959,
U-Haul has partnered with AAMVA to sponsor and host the Traditional
Past Chairs'/Presidents' Breakfast during the AAMVA's international
and regional conferences.
"AAMVA and our members are committed to promoting highway safety
and preparing drivers to be safe when they get behind the wheel,"
said Anne Ferro, AAMVA CEO. "The new
guidance in our Model Driver's License Manual, including new
information on safe trailering developed with our partners at
U-Haul, will strengthen our already robust training materials and
bring us closer to achieving our goal of Safe Drivers, Safe
Vehicles, Secure Identities, Saving Lives."
The NMDTS establishes uniformity between jurisdictions for the
testing of noncommercial operators and provides a base of core
information for driver manuals and graduated driver license (GDL)
parent instruction guides. The development and maintenance of the
NMDTS ensures that new drivers receive proper information on safe
operating practices and are tested to determine whether they
possess the minimum knowledge and skills for entering the driver's
license system.
Chrissy Nizer, Administrator of
the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration and Chair of the AAMVA
International Board of Directors, noted: "AAMVA members nationwide
take their responsibility of training new drivers very seriously,
knowing that the risk of a crash during the first few years of
driving is much more likely. The new guidance provided in our Model
Driver's License Manual and in the Noncommercial Model Driver
Testing System, including the safe trailering information, is
essential to helping our members do their jobs to ensure each
person who receives their license is prepared for the road."
The U-Haul Safe Trailering initiative is adaptable to an
assortment of audiences, including Driver's Education
professionals, Highway Safety Offices, Law Enforcement agencies,
youth safety groups and general public safety organizers. As a
corporate member of the American Driver and Traffic Safety
Education Association (ADTSEA) and National Student Safety Program
(NSSP), U-Haul continues its longstanding commitment of encouraging
the study and teaching of safe trailering.
U-Haul provides all education materials and experiences 100%
free of charge to government, education and industry groups as a
public service. The primary way U-Haul accomplishes this is with
the Marco Garcia Trailering Demonstrator, a visual teaching tool
that features a one-tenth-scaled car on a running treadmill; a
weight-toting bar attached to the car, representing a trailer; and
a wheel at the end of the treadmill for guests to steer the
car.
VIDEO: Demonstrator teaches U-Haul Safe Trailering
best practices
When loaded properly with 60% of the cargo weight toward the
front of the trailer (in front of the axle), the wheel can turn
abruptly and the trailer remains behind the car. But when loaded
incorrectly with too much weight in the back, the demonstrator
shows how an abrupt turn causes the trailer to fishtail, whipping
and potentially creating a catastrophic towing scenario.
To inquire how the U-Haul Safe Trailering program can be your
safe towing resource, please email
trailerdemonstrator@uhaul.com.
About U-HAUL
Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of
do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 23,000 locations
across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share
24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day
through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our
proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has
enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 186,000 trucks,
128,000 trailers and 46,000 towing devices. U-Haul is the third
largest self-storage operator in North
America and offers 895,000 rentable storage units and 76.6
million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed
facilities. U-Haul is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S.,
and continues to be the largest installer of permanent trailer
hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. U-Haul has been
recognized repeatedly as a leading "Best for Vets" employer and was
recently named one of the 15 Healthiest Workplaces in
America. uhaul.com
About AAMVA
Founded in 1933, AAMVA serves North American motor vehicle
and law enforcement agencies to accomplish their missions. The
Association's vision of Safe Drivers, Safe Vehicles, Secure
Identities, Saving Lives guides AAMVA's activities, resources, and
programs in driver licensing, vehicle titling/registration, motor
carrier services, identity management, and technology solutions.
For more information visit www.aamva.org.
Contact:
Jeff
Lockridge
Sebastien Reyes
E-mail: publicrelations@uhaul.com
Phone: 602-760-4941
Website: uhaul.com
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SOURCE U-Haul