When you pass or ride along side a tractor trailer on I-81 do you feel anxious? I know I often do. And it turns out we have every reason to feel nervous when we encounter a truck on the roadways.
A loaded tractor-trailer takes 20-40 percent farther to stop than a car. Stopping takes even longer on wet, slippery roads or on a truck with poorly maintained brakes.
In 2015 a total of 3,852 died in crashes that involved semi-trucks or tractor trailers. Sixteen percent of the people who died were drivers or other occupants of the truck, 69% were occupants of cars or other passenger vehicles, and the remaining 15% were pedestrians, cyclists or motorcycle riders.
97% of vehicle occupants killed in two-vehicle crashes involving a car or SUV and a large truck in 2015 were occupants of the passenger vehicles.
In the United States, the maximum weight allowed for a fully loaded tractor trailer is 80,000 pounds. Last year the average weight for a car, light duty truck, and passenger SUV’s was 4,000 pounds. Even though cars in the US are actually getting heavier thanks to enhanced safety features, more efficient but heavier engines, and more luxurious interiors they are still no match for 80,000 pounds of steel.
Thirty percent of deaths in large truck crashes occured on Interstates like I-81, I-581, and I-77. A whopping 53% occured on major roads like 460,220 and Route 11.
Many truckers prefer to drive on roads that are not interstates and freeways. Why? Because these roads are not as heavily patrolled, truckers can easily drive over the speed limit, avoid weigh stations and avoid having travel logs inspected.
Because truckers are paid for the miles traveled, many continue to drive throughout the night. Twenty-six percent of accidents involving large trucks occured between the hours of 9pm-6am.
Stricter regulations for the trucking industry have been made in an attempt to curb the practice of using fatigued truckers in the United States. Studies have shown that drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving.
34% of all passenger vehicle vs. large truck crashes have occured on Saturdays and Sundays.
Unfortunately, these are days when families are most likely to be on the road and children are even killed in these accidents.
What can I do to avoid a collision with a semi-truck or a tractor trailer?
I found a great interview with a tractor trailer driver published in Road and Track magazine in September of 2015. It was interesting to read the article which was written from the perspective of the long haul truck driver. The trucker had some great tips for driving around those “big rigs” safely.
1) Do not ride on the right side of the trailer. Even if you can see the trucker’s mirrors, he or she may not be able to see you. He goes on to point out that even if he doesn’t run you off the road when he changes lanes, you are still in grave danger. If the truck experiences a tire blowout, it will most certianly cause serious damage to your car and most likely cause you to run off of the road.
2) Crossing three lanes of traffic to make your exit is a problem. If the driver of a car is swerving in front of the truck, it may cause the driver of the truck to attempt to slow or stop suddenly. Remember, trucks need 20-40 percent more braking distance than a passenger vehicle. The driver of the car also cannot see what’s on the other side of the truck on a 3 lane road. They are literally making a blind merge.
3) Excessive speed. According to the trucker interviewed for the article, this is really stupid. He states that he sees small car or “crotch rockets” going in excess of 100mph on busy highways. He states, “It’s just nuts.” Agreed.
4) People who don’t keep a consistent speed. People who drive slower than the traffic around them are just as likely to cause an accident as someone who is driving too fast.
If you or someone you love has been hurt or killed in a Roanoke Trucking Accident, call The Thomson Law Firm for a FREE consultation. We can answer your questions so that you can obtain fair compensation. Roanoke Lawyer Paul Thomson has 21 years of experience and has obtained a settlement as high as 21 million dollars for a client. Read more about that case and other successful outcomes here.
The call is free to get the help you need. Call today (877) 471-3353.
