Apr 25, 2018 | Trucking/Tractor-Trailer Accidents
Tailgating any vehicle, for any reason, is extremely dangerous. You risk causing a fender bender, or worse, depending on what type of vehicle you’re following too closely. When car drivers tailgate other vehicles, they shorten the distance. The shorter the distance, the shorter amount of time there is for a driver to stop in the event that they need to. One instance where this can be particularly dangerous, is if you’re tailgating a tractor trailer or other industrial vehicle. They’re much larger, much more proactive in stopping, and much harder to see around.
Tailgating Tractor Trailers: Why It’s Dangerous
Lowered Visibility
Following too closely behind a truck is dangerous for a number of reasons. One of which, is that the truck driver may not be able to see you so they can’t adjust for your presence. Aside from this, you also can’t see what’s going on in front of that truck. Maybe traffic is stacking, an accident just occurred, or a speed limit reduction is coming up. For any of these situations, your visibility when tailgating would be way too close to tell. So, if the tractor trailer significantly reduces speed or stops quick, you very likely could hit them. While any type of accident is not ideal, rear-ending a tractor trailer can do some pretty serious damage. However, it’s not going to damage they vehicle…
The Mansfield, or DOT, Bar
There are plenty of things that can happen if you rear-end a truck. But one measure of these, once gruesome, accidents has been reduced through adaptations to the back end of tractor trailers. For one, many trucks nowadays have a DOT bar, or a Mansfield Bar. The Mansfield bar was crafted in the ’60s, after a Hollywood starlet and her lover perished in an accident.
On that evening, a thick fog covered the road, reducing visibility, and they rear-ended a tractor trailer. At the time, there was no measure in place to keep a car from going under the truck when they hit it. Therefore, after this terrible accident, a new safety measure came to be. A bar that would prevent vehicles from sliding underneath the tractor trailer in the event of an accident.
Death and Deadly Injury
Tailgating a tractor trailer serves no real purpose. Many times, when drivers are angry, they will tailgate a vehicle to prove a point. Speed up, pay more attention, or ‘you shouldn’t have passed me’. It seems quite common that those who tailgate, are trying to deliver a message. But, tractor trailers cannot see you. Therefore, they are not aware that you have an issue. So, riding their bumper can ultimately only hurt you.
Apr 20, 2018 | Trucking/Tractor-Trailer Accidents
Texting while driving in any vehicle is dangerous, to say the least. However, semi-truck texting and drive creates a greater danger on the road. The implication of their crashing is much more grave, therefore, their texting and driving can have a greater impact on the roadway. It’s not unusual for those who are driving long distances, and spending long periods of time on the road, to want to contact their families. Because of this, texting and driving can be quite tempting for truckers. However, finding an appropriate place and time to use your cell phone, is increasingly important for truckers…
Semi-Truck Texting and Driving: A Deadly Habit
Texting and driving remains the stigma for younger people. However, a majority of adults engage in the act from time to time. It doesn’t matter the vehicle, when you’re taking your eyes off the road, and hands off the wheel— bad things can happen. This just happens to increase tenfold when those eyes and hands are the director of a semi-truck. Commercial trucks take up more space, weigh more, and cause much more damage in a crash. Truck drivers are typically very safe drivers. But, in the event of a semi-truck texting and driving, they can create danger for everyone on the roadway.
Texting while driving is against the law, but that doesn’t mean people will stop.
Although against the law, many people will still text and drive until there is a system to stop it. You think you’re in control, you look down for one minute, and next thing you know, you’ve rear-ended a merging motorcycle. Texting and driving can be very tempting, especially on long-hauls. But, it’s important to understand the implication.
Combining a number of factors
Truck drivers spend a lot of time on the roadways. Long-haul trips, or even just working every day— it can get pretty monotonous and tiring. So, combine that fatigue with a cell phone, and the risk of accident becomes quite prevalent. In any case, texting and driving is extremely dangerous and can end in serious injury to yourself, or the person you hit. So, avoid it at all costs. If something is so important it must be handled or discussed right now, pull over. Your life, and the lives of others, are too valuable to be lost over a simple conversation.
Apr 19, 2018 | Trucking/Tractor-Trailer Accidents
Driving in an unfamiliar area is never an easy task for anyone. However, truck drivers must be on time to the right location to unload their trailers no matter the area. At any rate, truck drivers can speed to meet those deadlines, putting others on the road at risk. In other words, we cannot rely on truck drivers to always drive safely, especially when driving in unfamiliar areas.
Trucks Speeding in Unfamiliar Area: Taking an Uncalculated Risk
No one can ever predict what will happen on the roadways. But, knowing what’s what can do a great deal for helping you get from point A to point B more easily and quickly. Unfamiliar areas can be dangerous if you’re speeding. Think about it: you’re over the speed limit, you’re unfamiliar with your surroundings, and you never know when a large curve might come out of nowhere. So, risk is higher if you’re going faster.
Take for example, a truck driver who is speeding down a back road to make their delivery. If there is a sharp turn coming, the truck driver could flip if they do not know where it is. By speeding, they can easily miss signs warning drivers of sharp turns or bridges with weight limits. In short, when speeding in unfamiliar places, truck drivers are less aware of potentially dangerous roads.
We must depend on ourselves for safety, and hope for the best
You cannot depend on anyone to drive safely. Ultimately, it is up to every driver to do their part in being a safe driver. Truck drivers have deadlines, and will sometimes get ahead of themselves when it comes to speed. This is not every driver, and likely only happens on occasion. So, increase your following distance always. You never know when they’re in an unfamiliar area, so prepare for worst case scenario. Speeding is dangerous already, but speeding in an unfamiliar area increases the risk of a serious accident. So, drive safe, drive smart, and follow at a safe distance!
Apr 18, 2018 | Trucking/Tractor-Trailer Accidents
Anyone who has driven on the interstate before is familiar with the concept of a weigh station for tractor trailers. While truck weigh stations serve to make a safe road, not all commercial trucks are required to go through them. You might think that a weigh station doesn’t serve too much of a purpose, but in reality, they keep our roadways safer for a number of reasons. And, ultimately, if a truck that is required to go through it does not, it can be a pretty serious issue…
Weigh Stations: What’s Their Purpose?
Just as the name hints, weigh stations check a commercial truck’s weight to make sure it is not over the required maximum. If a truck weighs too much, it can become problematic for plenty of different reasons. Take for example, an overweight truck passing through a small bridge. All bridges are different, and can handle different amounts of weight. But, if that bridge is not equip to handle the weight of that overloaded truck, the bridge could potentially collapse. So, while a weigh station might seem unnecessary, or for truckers— a bit of a headache, those weigh stations serve a larger purpose.
Hoping for the best
In any event, we cannot control whether or not a truck will perform the stop. So, if the officers at the weigh station do not catch on, it can mean serious hazard for the roadway. Ultimately, catastrophe will not occur every time someone skips a weigh station, but the potential is much higher than it would have been. At any rate, our safety relies on commercial trucks’ complying with the law and regulations.
Any good driver knows that more distance between vehicles means more safety. When a truck passes right by a weigh station, it doesn’t mean we should panic. Not all trucks have a requirement to pull through the weigh station. So, the key for maintaining your own safety is to maintain a safe following distance. Leave yourself room to react to what may come. You cannot control the actions of anyone but yourself. So, protect yourself by maintaining a safe following distance in case of emergency!
Apr 17, 2018 | Trucking/Tractor-Trailer Accidents
If a car is attempting to turn when a commercial truck is making a U-turn, there can be some pretty serious consequences. Most people generally know, executing a U-turn requires more time than turning right or left for any vehicle. But when it comes to commercial trucks, those U-turns not only require more time, but much more space than for a typical passenger vehicle. Because of this, it’s important to be aware and cautious if you run into a commercial truck that is performing this action. Doing so, will ensure that you avoid a major collision and potential serious injury. Driving a tractor trailer is extremely difficult, especially when you have to perform a maneuver such as this. So, do what you can to adjust!
Commercial Trucks and U-Turns: Being Safe in Your Passenger Vehicle
For one, commercial trucks have a trailer that they must keep within the lane. Because trailers of trucks are large in length and weight, they require extra attention. For instance, a truck driver could slam their brakes suddenly when making a U-turn. Unfortunately, it can create a potential threat to any vehicles nearby. For that reason, we must approach u-turning commercial trucks safely. There is no predicting the roads or behavior of other drivers, so approach difficult situations with as much caution as possible. Watch them turn, adjust where you need to, and be observant of potential dangers or changes. Truck drivers are incredible drivers, but, they cannot account of every little thing that might happen.
Take safety measures ahead of time
Driving has an unpredictable nature to it. So, when commercial trucks U-turn, it is important we give them enough space to execute it safely and easily. The more cushion between a car and a truck, the more time there is to react to potential dangers. In short, if there is less room between a car and truck, there is less room for safety. If a truck is u-turning, try and be patient.
Being a safe driver means making choices that might occasionally slow you down. But, it is up to you to decide what is more important: shaving three minutes off of your travel time, or making it there safely and without incident. Driving is, as we’ve said, unpredictable sometimes. So, it’s important to take precaution when given the chance.
Apr 9, 2018 | Trucking/Tractor-Trailer Accidents, Uncategorized
There was a day and age where truck drivers were revered. But, it seems that in the past ten to fifteen years, that sentiment has faded and given way to a different view. It seems that, for most, the image that comes to mind is an uneducated, cat-calling, killer-type. It’s harsh, but, for many— the image that your mind crafts is overall unflattering. But where did the stereotype go south? When did the hardworking and driven men and women of the trucking industry lose all their street cred?
Truck Drivers: When Did the Stereotype Go South?
It begins in and around the ‘90s, when movies such as “Joy ride” and “Maximum Overdrive” came out; diving fear into the hearts of mass America. The characters were fictional, and the director— surely didn’t have a vendetta against hardworking truck drivers. However, in Reefer Madness fashion, the sentiment began to shift until the majority opinion was changed.
Cat-Calling Truckers
If you think of any movies you see with a tractor trailer driver in it, they’re typically not the lead. Usually, you see them calling to ladies from a parking lot, or flashing grins from the window to our heroine in the convertible. Ultimately, they have a long-standing portrayal of being flesh hungry, and easily distractible.
The All-Male Cast
Another thing you might notice about any portrayal of a truck driver (or that image in your head) is that they are never women. It seems like a man’s world, which can keep women form considering the career path. However, there are about an approximate 200,000 female long-haul drivers!! The career path is great for women. Plus, you get to make a difference within a career where you are underrepresented. Sounds pretty good, if you ask me.
Low-education
Many people consider truckers uneducated because you don’t need a college degree to get into the field. But, the career path is a pretty smart one to take! You have job security, a flexible schedule, a steady and livable income… Becoming a truck driver has been a life-changing move for many, and you have to be pretty smart to do it. If you don’t think so— consider navigating, driving, and adapting to conditions in an eighteen-wheeler. Doesn’t sound so easy, does it?
Not all truck drivers are upstanding citizens…
This is a given. But, if you think about it: bankers, car salesmen, mothers, cashiers… there are bad eggs all around us. When it comes down to it, a stereotype is simply that… a generalization made by people with a misunderstanding. Sure, there might be some truck drivers out there that fit this mold, however, you can’t judge a book by it’s cover.
