There’s a good reason tractor trailers require a specialty license to operate them. They’re big, fast, heavy, and – in the wrong conditions – incredibly dangerous. It is estimated that 3.5 percent of all automobile
accidents each year involve tractor trailers. Around 4,600 of these result in some sort of fatality. This can be due to the sheer power and size of the machines, but can also be due to user error and, of course, other outside factors that many tractor-trailer drivers face on a daily basis. Here are some of the common causes of tractor trailer accidents in the United States.
Training can only get you so far when Mother Nature is involved. Anyone and everyone can and should learn good defensive driving techniques, as well as techniques for driving in inclement weather (such as steering into a spin) but if a tractor trailer driver continues on into poor weather, there’s only so much that can be done to prevent things from getting out of control. This can be due to low visibility in the case of heavy rain, snow or sleet storm, wet roads causing hydroplaning, or even the presence of black ice on the roads causing skids. The best prevention in many cases is avoidance and, of course, reduction of speed.
Depending on where you are in the US, a combination of poor funding, bad organization and the local weather and environment are going to affect road conditions. Everything from uneven roads to potholes can be the cause of excessive wear or even the direct reason for some automobile accidents. Being aware of the roads you’ll be on ahead of time can help you plan, but slowing your speed may also be your best bet in the case of unpaved/dirt roads, or narrow driving paths.
We normally look at road construction as a cause of frustration or even the impetus for road rage, but what we often forget is the very reason they ask you to slow down in construction zones. They are dangerous. Not only are they often filled with pedestrians in the form of construction workers, but changing and closed lines, a lack of painted lines on the road, and competing for road space with impatient drivers can be a huge source of potential danger. Steady and attentive driving is hugely important, as is trying to find alternate routes whenever possible.
This might not be the most common cause, but it is concerning: some truck drivers are simply not trained enough or properly to operate their machines safely. This can often be discovered at the worst time, when an accident can be avoided, but the driver doesn’t know how to do so. Defensive driving is a huge part of learning to
drive such a large vehicle.
With great truck comes great responsibility – truck drivers should drive with the responsibility those trucks require. If you’re near one, you should drive defensively in case of an
accident, which could be due to something as simple and unfortunate as fatigue.
blogs
Five Helpful Facts and Tips About Pedestrian Accidents
The pedestrian fatality rate in Arizona is more than double that of the national average, at 1.61 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people. Most of these are male pedestrians, killed at a rate of almost three times as much as female pedestrians. Keeping pedestrians safe is everyone’s job, but as a pedestrian, you should understand the […]
How Dangerous are Ride Shares?
Everyone with a smartphone now has access to the next generation of personalized, private transportation. It used to be a matter of calling and reserving a cab or, in some places, hailing one from the side of the road. Since ridesharing is a new phenomenon, however, all of the kinks are still being worked out, […]
Slip and Fall Injuries in Arizona and California
In desert climates especially, some property managers have a tendency to not count on inclement weather when it comes to the upkeep of their properties. This means that, over time, things like rain and seismic shifts can slowly wear away at all kinds of surfaces, making them unsafe to walk on. While property managers may […]
Personal Injury Lawsuits: What You Need to Know and how RS Law Office Can Help
Life is pretty unpredictable. One minute you’re healthy and bubbly, the next one you are nursing an injury due to someone else’s negligence. But the fact that life is unpredictable does not in any way reduce the pain and confusion that may arise when you find yourself in harm’s way due to another person’s negligence. […]
The Most Unsafe Era for Pedestrians in 40 Years
Pedestrian safety is of utmost importance right now, and not just because pedestrians legally have the right of way in most places in the United States. Being asafer pedestrian is always key to avoiding injuries by being aware of ones surroundings and avoiding distractions, but as it stands, North Americans are not stemming the tide […]
Tips for Avoiding Car Accidents
Whether you’re driving in a place where the environment is a little more driver-friendly, or if you’re somewhere where the weather poses a driving hazard, you can’t go wrong having a working knowledge of how best to avoid accidents. In 2020 alone, there were nearly 36,000 fatal motor vehicle accidents in the United States. Those […]
Motorcycle Safety Tips for Cold Weather
Driving any vehicle in cold weather and especially snow is going to make for a much more difficult time than driving in dry, comfortable weather. With enough preparation and all of the right gear, it is possible to mitigate many of these problems, but without them, you run the risk of a deadly accident. Before […]
Common Causes of Car Accidents – and Ways to Avoid Them
Car accidents are an increasingly common source of injuries and loss of property and life. Every year, there are estimated to be over six million car accidents, in the US alone. We drive everywhere, and even short distances pose a hazard to drivers, as well as pedestrians and people on bicycles. The loss of property […]
Five Helpful Facts and Tips About Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycles are specialist machines. They require their own licenses, training and a specific discipline for driving safely. Learning to drive defensively on a motorcycle can be more difficult than doing so in an automobile. Each year, there are 2,907 total motorcycle crashes, 2,274 of which result in injuries and 156 of which result in some […]
Winter Slip and Fall Accident Tips
Whether your winter is cold and snowy or just plain cold, winter is a time when slipand fall accidents are increasingly likely. Cold, wind, ice and snow are problems on their own and when they combine, it’s a perfect storm of injury possibilities. Typically, these conditions result in bruises and bumps, but there’s always the […]
контактная форма
