[A/S] Exhaust Brakes can be Hazardous to Your Health!

["Cecil Copley" <cecilcopley@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As a former Commercial Driver License (CDL) Examiner for the State of 
Indiana and a trainer for new 18-wheel truck drivers, I can add to 
the discussion of exhaust brakes that they DO and WILL cause jack-
knife accidents for towed vehicles.  So, please check statistics at 
the Federal Highway Safety Admin. and be very careful.  The "brakes" 
should be used on dry surfaces only--never in winter or wet weather.  
The reason is simple.  The "brakes" are on the engine, not on the 
towed vehicle.  For example, if the towing and towed vehicles are 
traveling at 60 mph at the time the "brakes" are applied, the front 
vehicle will be slowed 3/4 of a second before the towed vehicle is 
slowed, causing the jack-knife.  By the way, the "engine exhaust 
brakes" are not "brakes" in fact.  They are engine RETARDERS.  They 
simply RETARD the speed of the front vehicle.  Having driven 18-wheel 
vehicles for 15 years, I would NEVER use them.  This is a case where 
knowledge can be scary.

Cecil Copley
63 Safari
WBCCI 8671