Why Do Trucks Overturn So Often on American Roadways?

Trucks overturn

USA- Wwlp.com writes that large trucks are continuing to be involved in deadly rollover collisions. While truck drivers must undergo training on how to best operate these large and cumbersome vehicles, they often end up involved in horrific wrecks.

Many collisions involving tractor-trailers are the result of other drivers who maneuver around these vehicles or lose control and cause accidents. However, rollover truck crashes are clearly a problem, with several recent examples occurring on American roads.

One truck driver said a big part of the problem is speed. Drivers who travel too fast are putting themselves and others at risk. Trucks moving at high speeds are more likely to overturn. Once a truck rolls, the driver is powerless to do anything.

A truck driver from Georgia spoke to reporters and stated that in many cases, these incidents occur because a trucker is forced to swerve the massive vehicle in an effort to avoid a smaller car. Smaller vehicles often cut off trucks or pull in front of a semi and then stop. The driver said this happens several times a day. Of course, trucks cannot maneuver as easily or stop as fast as cars, although many on the road fail to recognize these limitations.

When a truck does rollover, the damage caused is extensive. These massive vehicles will often cause damage to the roadway itself. The truck owner’s insurance must pay for the repairs to the roadway, and the equipment and supplies used by the state to clean the road after a wreck.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), truck crashes are on the rise throughout the United States, even as other kinds of collisions decrease.