Drivers need to understand the mistakes that can cause highway collisions.
Our friends, families and neighbors are being slaughtered on the highways. In 2002 alone, 42,815 men, women and children died in traffic accidents. Of these horrific numbers, 4,897 persons died in car-truck crashes. Although this is the fifth consecutive year for decreases in both the large truck fatality rate and fatalities in large truck-related crashes, (down from 5,111 in 2001) the numbers are still too high.
A June 2003 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded, in part, that passenger car drivers share a far greater blame for car-truck crashes than truck drivers. But regardless of who is to blame, trucks and autos must learn more about each other if they are to safely share the roads.
Toward that end, I would like to share with the motoring public a few incidents, which professional drivers see far too often.
Size-speed illusion
An optical illusion causes a motorist to underestimate the size and speed of an approaching truck. A truck may appear “small” because of its distance from the motorist. At the same time, because of its size, a truck often appears to be traveling at a slower speed than it actually is. Imagine the last time you saw a jumbo jet landing at an airport. It appeared to be traveling at a slower speed than the 200-plus mph it was actually traveling. A substantial number of car-truck collisions take place at intersections because the driver of the car does not realize how close the truck is or how quickly it is approaching.
Construction-zone cutoff
A car passes a truck at high speed – and then cuts back in front of the truck – in order not to be trapped behind the truck in a speed-restricted, single-lane construction zone. This maneuver forces the truck driver to use emergency braking. In 1994, two construction workers were killed on an Indiana highway when a truck in this emergency braking situation swerved into them.
Right-side blind
A car rides in the trucker’s blind spot or passes on the right. Here, too, the trucker confronted with an obstacle ahead cannot take evasive action without striking the car, which he cannot see.
Right-turn squeeze
A car tries to pass a truck and beat it to a right turn, often ignoring the truck’s flashing right-turn signal. The truck gets to the corner first, and the trucker cannot see the car, because it is in his blind spot. The truck turns, and the car gets caught in the “squeeze play.” As in the previous blind-spot incident, the truck driver is not legally at fault, but the incident will end up on his driving record anyway.
Sidecar squeeze
A car in cruise control inches past a semitrailer rig at a speed only slightly faster than the speed of the truck. The car’s position makes it impossible for the trucker to take evasive action if an obstacle appears ahead.
Lane blocking
A constant-speed driver blocks a lane, forcing faster vehicles, including trucks, to brake, or perhaps to undertake a dangerous passing maneuver. Motorists should check their rearview mirrors frequently. If traffic is building up behind, they should pull over and let the flow of traffic adjust itself. Lane blocking is particularly dangerous on hilly, curving, two-lane roads, which offer few opportunities for passing. On the interstates, slower traffic should stay in the right lane, so that truckers will not have to brake, downshift and change lanes to pass, or accelerate unnecessarily.
It should also be remembered that in most states, trucks are not permitted in the left-hand lane on the interstate. Motorists who block the center lane and refuse to move right when a truck overtakes them force trucks to either brake or undertake a dangerous right-hand passing maneuver.
Slow down to speed up
A car passes a truck and then slows to turn off the road, forcing the truck to brake, downshift and then go slowly back up through the gears to regain momentum. This situation calls for courtesy as well as safety. Knowing he’s about to slow down anyway, the motorist should follow the truck and then turn.
It’s longer than you think
A motorist fails to notice that the truck ahead is pulling double or triple trailers. Failure to understand the total length of the rig may lead the motorist to underestimate the distance needed to pass the truck. Incredibly, motorists being passed by one of these longer combination vehicles sometimes fail to note the presence of a second or third trailer and try to cut in behind the first trailer. This is an easy mistake to make when the individual trailers are separated by long drawbars that leave substantial daylight between adjacent trailers.
Let’s do it
Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta recently said, “Once and for all we must resolve the national epidemic on our highways.”
Well said, Mr. Secretary. Now, let’s do it.
Guy Bourrie has been hauling on the highways for 20 years. He lives in Washington, Maine, and can be reached at redhaven@midcoast.com.
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