It’s hard not to be a little apprehensive when you’re sharing the road with some big rigs — if you know anything about them, you know rollovers are always a possibility.
That makes it important to understand what puts a truck at greater risk for a rollover — so that you can spot potential danger signs and give those trucks a wide berth.
1. Excess Speed
Almost 50 percent of rollover accidents are the result of excess speeds — drivers who take bends in the road too fast run the risk of a shifting load or just generally being unbalanced. Highway exits and on-ramps are also a danger zone because trucks often don’t slow down far enough in advance and are then forced to hit their brakes too hard in order to stop.
If you see a truck ahead of you that isn’t slowing down on curves in the road, put some distance between you for your own safety.
2. Unbalanced Loads
Frankly, not everyone who loads a rig is thinking about how the rig will handle on the road. While the driver is supposed to inspect the load prior to starting out to make sure that weight is evenly distributed, it doesn’t always happen.
If you’re behind a truck that’s tipping a little, try to call the trucking company’s number if it’s visible to alert the driver and stay away!
3. Poor Maintenance
A peeled tread from a bad tire or a set of worn brakes can easily lead to disaster. Some companies start slacking off on maintenance either because they’re struggling financially or they don’t want to lose money while their rigs are out of commission for repairs.
While you can’t really spot this danger easily, the best thing to do is make sure that you keep a clear distance between yourself and the big rigs on the road.
4. Distracted Driving
Distracted driving takes many forms — from talking on a cell or texting to playing with the radio. Even eating while driving is distracting.
If you spot a driver who is doing anything other than driving and watching the road, consider it a rollover that’s waiting to happen.
Semi-truck accidents can quickly become horrific tragedies. Anyone injured due to an accident with a truck has a right to seek compensation for their injuries and other damages.
Source: Quality Truck Jobs, “Four Most Common Causes of Truck Rollovers,” July 23, 2017