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subject: Avoiding Truck Overturns And Accidents In Bad Weathers [print this page]


Like an SUV, trucks are also susceptible to rollover crashes. Once the weight of the truck is severely favored on one side, it may unbalance the whole vehicle once it makes a sharp turn.

This is most especially true during bad weathers where the unpredictability of Mother Nature adds to the element of truck overturns.

If there is a bad weather, it is important to be prepared knowing that the vehicle you are driving is about 10-20 times heavier and can deal greater damage to you and to others compared to a normal car.

First thing you must do is to get information about the weather on your routes by listening to the radio, watching TV news or even checking the internet.

It is also advisable that you map out alternative routes in case one of the routes you will be using is impassable.

The next thing to know is what measures you can take depending on what kind of weather conditions you will be facing.

Here are some of the most common bad weather situations that can result to truck overturns and accidents:

Rains

The danger of rains not only comes from the danger of possible floods.

Even light rains can be dangerous because it lifts the spilled oils from the streets which makes it for very slippery roads.

In addition, water serves as a leveling agent that smoothes normally rough road. This results to a decrease in traction that can cause big vehicles like trucks to slip and overturn.

During rains, you should:

Avoid sudden deceleration or acceleration.

Drive on tracks that have been used by the vehicles ahead of you.

Turn on lights and defroster for better visibility.

Snow and Ice

During cold weathers, the roads become slippery as it is more prone to freezing.

In case of heavy snows and the possibility of ice on the road, you should:

Maintain a steady and slow pace.

Be careful when braking. Avoid sudden stops. Always remember that your braking area will be three to twelve times bigger than normal.

Keep your windows and windshield clear.

Remember that ice forms faster on bridges and overpasses.

In the event of a blizzard, stay in the truck while leaving one window partially open. Make sure that the exhaust pies are clear of snow and run the engine and heater every hour.

Fog

One of the most common causes of truck accidents and multi-vehicle collisions is heavy fog.

Heavy fog reduces visibility so much that sometimes you feel that you are driving blind.

In most cases, drivers can only see what is in front of them when inside a heavy fog.

If you will be driving through a fog, it is recommended that you:

Slow down before entering the fog.

Aside from fog lights, use low beam headlights.

Be aware that there may be vehicles around even if you cant see them.

Roll down windows to help you hear other vehicles.

Stay on the right road.

If the fog is too heavy, pull off the road on the far right side without endangering anyone else then wait for the fog to lift.

However, even with all the care in the word you can still be involved in a truck accident if the people around you are negligent drivers.

If you have been injured as a result, you should consult a truck accident lawyer for help.

by: Mark Dacanay




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