Traffic cones

[Caitie]

Do you guys set up traffic cones around your rig when you park on the street? I wonder how effective these would be in avoiding traffic accidents while grooming. I have a long truck and trailer combo (probably approaching 40' in length) and can't park in many driveways. I also like to park in the street for the advertising but I worry about people hitting me.

[marcey]

Yes, sometimes I setup a cone...

I setup a cone when I need to park in an area which may be unexpected to other vechicles. Sometimes I need to park on the wrong side of the street, or if there is not enough room and my trailer hangs out a couple of feet into the traffic lane, I will DEFINITELY setup a cone then. But otherwise, I don't. I feel like I would more likely forget to pickup the cone than be hit!

[Verna C]

So far we haven't been in a situation where we would need any cones. It wouldn't be a bad idea though to carry one or two just incase. We have a WNT Elite so it's not like we aren't visible.

[carriagedog]

Mirror hit on drivers side

Cones might be a good idea that I never thought of. Last summer my van was hit parked on the street in front of a client's house while I was grooming a standard poodle. It busted the drivers side mirror. I noticed it was a commercial van with writing on the side that hit me but it sped away before I could read it. (I hope he busted his mirror too!) The police made a report but it was lower then my deductable so I just paid for it. You'd think someone else that has a business wouldn't just hit and run.

[diamienono]

I don't

I just park where ever I want lol. If they can't see a big white trailer and hit me well I just hope they have insurance. I try to get as far off the road as possible. I would forget to pick up cones.

[azoci]

Hi, no I haven't use them, but I've seen other units (RV's) with the 'push-outs" that set them up so car's would know where the unit come out too. Might be a good thing to have on board, though. You just never know when you might need something like that. Good Idea.

[diamienono]

I thought about putting emergency flares in there just in case. Cones can't be seen at night. Right now I am out in the dark a lot.

[ferret]

I don't carry around traffic cones, and I rarely have to park on a busy street, but I do sometimes just push my driver's side mirror in so its not sticking out. I'm lucky my mirrors just fold in towards the van, so I haven't had any anyone rip my mirror off.

[bow_wow_wheels]

I've never parked where I felt the van was in any danger

[furrybestjob]

That's something that never even entered my mind. I usually am able to park in people's driveways, so I don't usually have anything to worry about. I do have to admit, though, I feel very uneasy when I'm parked in the street. When people just go flying by the van actually rocks a little. I can't stand it.

[barknpurr]

I am not sure if I am convinced that cones are really going to stop a car/truck from hitting me... To me, it would be more of a hassle to have to pick them all back up every time. And then, where do you store them?

Nah - I am just careful of where I park. And HOPEFULLY nothing will happen.

[Maggy]

I think its a good idea, lets face it, there are drivers like me out there.

[toomuchfunbnme]

Good Idea!

I am just switching careers to learn grooming, but plan to go mobile once I'm ready. I think that traffic cones are a great idea. I think anything you do to show the clients that you are safety concious is a good selling point and sepperates you from the crowd. Plus it may help you to prevent an accident. In the event of an accident I wonder if having used cones might help your insurance case? I've seen small traffic cones that would be easier to carry. I wonder if there is some way to make a holder for traffic cones on the bumper of a van or trailer for quick and easy use and storage. That would be a great product for someone to sell to mobile groomers!

[Doug]

Traffic cone

I do not use cones when I park but there are times when people drive past and I cringe because they sound like they are going too fast and too close by the way my vehicle rocks side to side. Parking in the street across from a drive way has been the only time I was tagged and that was by an old blind lady. It was pretty much a shock to watch her back out right into me. It’s still a shock and was 9 years ago. The olds she was driving looked perfectly new but was old as well until I walked around the passenger side of it and it looked like it was used in crash up derby. She was blind in her left eye. If people cannot see your van or trailer how will they see cones?
As a side note you do have to check with your state laws and make sure if you’re supposed to have the triangles or flare's and a certified fire extinguisher in a commercial vehicle. New Jersey has some pretty stiff fines if you get caught with out them both. Years back it was around 200. for each offense. Who knows what it is now or if it is part of the double fine thing in safety areas.
Fire extinguishers in N.J. have to be certified each year by an oxygen supply place that can refill them or add air if it gets low. Each year they re-tag the unit, I think it was 15 or 20 dollars last year. Sure cheaper then 200 or more in fines.
I know this is off the topic it just started to sound like something that might lead some people to think you do not have to have the safety equipment if you do not use it.

[Kim in SD]

I do

I bought four, when I started my business in April. I've had to use them probably 5 times. Parked on a busy street, around a corner,,You bet I use them. Just not often. A lot of retired folks around here..they see two cones first then the big bus..(maybe)...haven't been hit yet..