Every trailer to be operated upon a public highway shall, in addition to a tow bar, be equipped with a safety chain or chains (stay chain or cable) adequate to hold such vehicle to the towing vehicle in the event of tow bar or coupling failure, or both. Each chain or cable and its accompanying coupling and mounting devices shall have an ultimate strength equal at least to the gross weight of the trailer.
(Sec. 15-19.41, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.)) (1990 Code, Ch. 15, Art. 19, § 15-19.41)