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Truck drivers encounter all sorts of weather as they travel across the United States. A truck driver with any experience knows that storms can pop up as if out of nowhere. Adverse weather conditions substantially affect the safety of everyone on the road. Despite the apparent dangers when operating a truck in adverse weather conditions, […]
Truck in adverse weather conditions
Truck drivers encounter all sorts of weather as they travel across the United States. A truck driver with any experience knows that storms can pop up as if out of nowhere. Adverse weather conditions substantially affect the safety of everyone on the road.
Despite the apparent dangers when operating a truck in adverse weather conditions, some commercial truck drivers insist on driving dangerously. They go too fast for the conditions, weave in and out of traffic, or push on even when the safest thing to do is pull over and wait for the worst of the weather to subside.
Truck drivers, for the most part, have excellent visibility. Their high perch and large windshield, along with several mirrors, allow drivers to see around them. Truck drivers know that each truck has enormous blind spots in which another motorist becomes invisible—the enormity of the blind spots increases in adverse weather conditions. Reduced visibility for the truck drivers means they must slow down and stay to the right, allowing other motorists to pass safely.
Inclement weather increases stopping distances for all vehicles, especially large trucks. Truck drivers endanger other drivers by following too closely in adverse weather. A tractor-trailer truck weighing approximately 80,000-pounds needs a lot more distance to stop at 65 miles per hour than a passenger car requires. Wet roads significantly reduce the friction needed to stop a semi, even when a trucker is following the speed limit.
Truck drivers must complete a rigorous driving course and maintain a clean safety record to keep their commercial driver’s license or CDL. Despite their training, drivers take chances in adverse weather conditions.
Federal regulations that limit the amount of time a driver may spend on the road decreases the driver’s opportunity to make money. Federal regulations grant a CDL driver two extra hours of drive time because of adverse conditions. Despite the extra drive time allotted, truck drivers race to their destination, so they have a greater chance to increase their pay.
Our 18-wheeler accident lawsuit lawyers represent those injured or families who lost family members in truck accidents caused by negligence. We invite you to speak with us about your case and an initial consultation, so contact us at 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529), or fill out our case inquiry form, or visit us in person.