A horse-drawn cart - a relic of the past?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

Horse-drawn transport has not been widely used for the transport of goods and passengers for a long time. Although in rural areas, in regions with poor roads without a hard surface, it can still be found. The horse-drawn cart is also used in the private sector and for on-farm transportation on farms, when organizing field work, and when harvesting timber.

Separately, we can single out the organization of transportation by horse-drawn transport of passengers along tourist routes within the city. The development of this line of business requires regulation, as more and more accidents occur with the participation of such vehicles, and the current regulatory framework is outdated.

Horse-drawn cart: definition

This type of transport involves the use of animals as draft power. It can provide both freight and passenger transportation. The name refers to a short leather loop (tug) with which shafts (wooden cart guides) are connected on both sides to the arc and harness.

This design provides the necessary rigidity to the vehicle. In the variant of the wagon without protruding shafts, the tugs are longer. They are called trailers and are attached directly to the trailer. This design does not provide rigidity to the hitch. trailer byinertia can continue coasting when stopped, and therefore must be equipped with a brake.

In most cases, a cart with horses is supposed to be a cart with horses, although other animals can be used as a tax.

Features

The trolley, depending on the design, can have one or two axles. In winter, in places with stable snow cover, wheeled carts are replaced by sledges. You can harness one animal, a couple, three. In some cases, there is a movement in a train, when several such pairs follow each other, being in a serial connection. In this case, the first animals are leading, they are controlled, and the rest follow.

Depending on the body structure, there are: carts, carriages, gigs (two-wheeled cart), baby carriages. By body shape: phaetons, convertibles, vans. According to their destination, freight and passenger transportation can be determined among them: tourist, ceremonial or ceremonial, hearses.

Animals

Despite the fact that the horse-drawn carriage is the most common among horse-drawn vehicles, the strength of deer, dogs, mules, donkeys, oxen and buffalo is still used as a tax. Such vehicles move slowly, on the road, car drivers have to overtake them. In this regard, horse-drawn animals can pose a potential danger due to an unpredictable reaction to a change in the situation (loud signal, abrupt or dangerous maneuver when overtaking, oncoming traffic of large vehicles, blindingheadlights at night).

In the plans of the developers of new norms for horse-drawn transport, the requirements for the content of "draft power" should also be indicated. Provisions should be made to prohibit beatings or other forms of mistreatment of animals that exceed the controls and are likely to harm them.

Horse-drawn cart: control

As a road user, any vehicle must be registered with registration. A horse-drawn cart is equipped with a plate with an account number placed on the rear of the body. The norm provides for the presence of a parking brake or stops to prevent spontaneous movement in areas with a steep slope.

The driver must control the animals while in the cart or holding them under the bridle. The transported overall cargo must be marked, additionally illuminated at night. Animals tied to the cart can be placed on the right side (closer to the roadside). Galloping is prohibited in populated areas, as is driving on improved surfaces if there is a dirt road nearby.

Keeping the rules

It is possible to drive on public roads on this type of transport (if there is no prohibition sign) on the extreme right lane or roadside without causing inconvenience to pedestrians. For a turn or a U-turn associated with leaving on the opposite side of the movement, there are special signals (with a hand or a whip) that the driver must give beforemaneuver.

The horse cart is not equipped with indicator lights, but there must be standard reflectors on the body. Persons from the age of 14 who know the rules of the road can drive horse-drawn vehicles. And although at the moment it is not necessary to obtain a driver's license, liability for traffic violations is provided.

Legislators plan to increase it many times over in order to reduce the likelihood of driving this type of transport by persons without proper training, and especially while intoxicated. There is a need to single out among the violators both the driver of a horse-drawn vehicle (charioteer) and the owner, if employment is expected.