Draft:Ron Melancon
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Ron J. Melancon is an American advocate for multiple causes, most notably those relating to vehicle trailers.
Melancon was born in Houston, Texas, and works as a clothing haberdasher.[1] He has also previously worked as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).[2] His education includes a Regents Diploma and some college courses.[1] He currently resides in Glen Allen, Virginia and has a wife and two children.[1]
Advocacy
[edit]Dangerous Trailers
[edit]History
[edit]In May 2003, Melancon rear-ended a truck-towed, low-slung, empty, steel-mesh trailer.[1][3] After the accident, he took photos of the trailer's lack of operational rear lights.[1] In court, he showed the judge the pictures.[1] The judge encouraged Melancon to "just pay the fine"[3] and his case was dismissed[1] However, the judge commended his efforts and instructed Melancon to keep him [the judge] updated.[1] Following the incident, Melancon conducted research about trailers, and found that trailers only had to have reflectors at their extreme rear ends if they were over 3,000 pounds.[3] He also found that the causes of trailer accidents extended beyond inadequate reflectors to other issues, including faulty safety connections and safety chain failure.[3] Additionally, Melancon witnessed a loose trailer crash into and kill a woman in the South Side of Richmond, leading to an increase in his advocacy efforts.[1]
Advocacy
[edit]Melancon's organization, described as a "one-man operation" in the Richmond Free Press, collects data on incidents and fatalities caused by unsafe trailers and publishes it on the internet.[1] Additionally, the organization engages in legislative advocacy.[1][3] It was responsible for laws passed in Virginia's General Assembly,[1] the first being House Bill 429, sponsored by Delegate Jack Reid and supported by Senator John Watkins[3], which passed the General Assembly in 2004[1] and required all trailers in Virginia to have reflectors or reflective tape;[1] and Senate Bill 646 in 2010,[1] sponsored by Watkins,[3] requiring all trailers to have a locking device preventing accidental vehicle separation,[1][3] which was signed into law in 2010 by Governor Bob McDonnell.[3]
Melancon says that more than 500 people are killed a year, and 35,000 injured a year, by passenger vehicles towing trailers.[1] Melancon also claims that his advocacy has led to trailer law changes in Alabama and Tennessee, new towing standards in England, and a new trailer licensing requirement in Ireland. Melancon wants the development of a national baseline requiring all trailers to meet a basic safety standard when used on any public roadway and the development of a chapter in states’ driver’s manuals on the safe towing of trailers.[1]
Melancon uses Google Search alerts in order to be notified whenever a trailer incident is reported[1] and maintains a homemade picture board of people that have been killed by trailers.[4]
Hayride and parade float advocacy
[edit]Melancon witnessed a parade float accident while working as an EMT, and, after being able to save the life of the woman injured in the accident, decided to advocate for parade float safety, and, more recently, hayride safety.[2] Melancon claims that 20 people a year are victims of unsafe hayrides and parade floats.[1] After a hayride incident in Hamilton County, Tennessee, Melancon contacted the Chattanooga Times Free-Press about hayrides, and said that agritourism events are not well-regulated anywhere in the country; he also expressed curiosity about whether hayride employees were trained in first aid or injury prevention.[2] Further, Melancon contacted KUTV after an incident in Kaysville, Utah that killed an eight-year-old girl to express his support of a parade safety review undertaken by the city; he thinks that every city hosting a parade should do the same.[5] He claims that the advocacy work undertaken by his organization has led to new hayride safety laws in Maine.[1]
License plates
[edit]Melancon has also advocated for additional vanity license plate options for Virginia vehicle owners.[1] He says that his biggest achievement was successfully advocating for a license plate with an American flag design in 2002.[1]
Pennies for Playgrounds
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Personality: Ron J. Melancon". richmondfreepress.com. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ a b c "Victim of Haunted Hilltop hayride accident identified | Chattanooga Times Free Press". www.timesfreepress.com. 2024-10-14. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Van Winkle, Courtney (2010-06-17). "Hometown Hero Ron Melancon -- Making Our Roads a Safer Place One Trailer at a Time". Allen and Allen. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
- ^ "Glen Allen resident brings national awareness to dangers of loose, stolen trailers". Henrico Citizen. 2021-05-26. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
- ^ KUTV, Jeremy Harris (2022-07-06). "Kaysville will review parade safety after 8-year-old girl's death". KUTV. Retrieved 2024-12-30.