Truck Drivers with Care
Today with snow all over the roadways here in the Pacific Northwest, roadway travel was limited. Those that had to go out faced conditions of icy roads, continuous snow flakes or ice rain and side roads that were difficult to navigate.
Out there, crazy drivers went too fast, followed too close and tried to go up or down roadways that were simply in no condition for travel. One thing that I did observe was number truck drivers on the snowy roadways and I did not seen a single incident of unsafe driving. I saw truck drivers going slowly, maintaining a safe following distance and avoiding hills.
Unfortunately, there were several Truck crashes on the highways. For example, a semi-truck crashed through a guard rail near Olympia. Often, these crashes are due to Truck drivers traveling too fast for winter driving conditions.
The winter weather conditions will hopefully improve soon.
The Pacific Northwest is blanketed in snow which is expected to remain on the roadways for the next 36 hours. It is especially important to slow down as you drive on the roadways. Truck drivers need to pay particular attention to safety and defensive driving. Truck drivers need to slow down, leave enough room between their rigs and other drivers. They also need to get off the roadway if conditions become too hazardous. In fact, federal regulations require this. Winter conditions require complete driver attention. Earlier, as I was driving to work, I watched a truck driver operate his rig while talking on the cell phone. This distraction contributes to accidents. In fact, it is estimated that 5,500 people were killed in 2009 by distracted drivers. It is also estimated that over 450,000 were injured by distracted drivers. Truck drivers must avoid distractions, especially in winter conditions.
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What seems common in each of these crashes is that the truck driver lost control of his truck and trailer. Speed, inattentiveness, lack of training and the failure to use defensive driving skills are some of the factors that contribute to a truck driver losing control of his truck and trailer. 
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The winter driving season kicks into gear with Thanksgiving travel. Across the State of Washington and our country, winter weather conditions require that we take greater care in our driving. Defense driving tactics must be used. Often big rigs go "racing" by as hard rain falls and the wind blows. Be on the watch-out for "racing" big rigs and take necessary precautions. You can not control how fast big rig drivers travel or how close they follow, but, you can keep on the look out and practice defensive driving. Travel at safe speeds, maintain safe following distances and stay alert. These rules will help you travel safely and will help protect your loved ones. Have a safe and joyful Thanksgiving!
One key to Truck drivers avoiding rear-end collision is proper knowledge of stopping distances. Stopping distance refers to the distance necessary to bring a Truck, or that fact, any motor vehicle to a stop. There are many factors that must be taken into consideration in order to determine stopping distances. These factors include: 1) the decision making process, in other words, the time,no matter how small, it takes for a driver to physically react after the decision to stop. This is commonly referred to as perception-reaction time; 2) the braking system on a Truck and Trailer. With most systems, there is a momentary delay in the actual activation of the brakes; 3) the road and weather conditions. Obviously, it takes longer for a Truck and Trailer to stop on a wet or icy road; and, 4) the speed at the time of the decision to stop. These are merely the basic factors related to stopping distances. Now, let's look at actual stopping distances.
The media has reported several recent rear-end collisions involving Trucks and Trailers. The facts have shown that the Truck drivers have smashed the vehicles in front of them, failing to slow and stop in time. Why does this type of collisions happen so often? It is my thought that this type of collision happens as a result of the failure of truck drivers 1) to maintain a safe following distance; 2) to operate their Trucks at a proper speed for the traffic, road and weather conditions; and, 3) to consider stopping distances. These types of collision are entirely preventable with proper and safe driving. Training of Truck drivers by Motor Carriers is so important to safety on our public roadways. One of the newspaper articles I read reported that two people were killed as a result of a Truck and Trailer smashing into the rear of their vehicle and forcing the vehicle into and under another Trailer that was in front of them. These deaths were so preventable
The fall has arrived and soon we will be in winter. It is this time of year that greater care is needed when traveling on our roadways. Often, as I travel on Pacific Northwest freeways, I watch Trucks go speeding by me without regard to the weather conditions. Rain conditions require defensive driver practices. Stopping distances are greatly increased and properly following distances most be maintained. Visibility is decreased by rain and darkness. Our hope is that Truck drivers are getting the necessary training, too often they are not.
Kevin Coluccio is one of the leading and most respected Trucking accident lawyers in the Pacific Northwest. His practice is limited...
