Recently, a mid-Michigan automobile accident resulted in the loss of the best Christmas present a little girl could receive: her horse. This accident was allegedly caused by an incident of road rage when an impatient driver, frustrated with the slow speed of the truck and horse trailer, cut the truck off sharply. The driver of the trailer was forced to brake suddenly; the horse scrambled, lost its footing and ultimately had to be euthanized.

Karen Waite, MS, Michigan State University Extension equine specialist, said this incident demonstrates that many drivers do not realize how challenging it can be to drive a truck hauling horses and/or other livestock.

"When an accident involves a horse or livestock trailer, both human and animal lives can be lost," Waite said. "Most drivers don’t realize that the combined weight of the truck, trailer, livestock, horses, or equipment makes it extremely difficult for the driver to stop quickly or slow down substantially."

Waite suggests that drivers passing a vehicle hauling a trailer should merge back into the lane allowing double the usual amount of space between their vehicles and the vehicle they’re passing