We want to keep you safe on the road, but we know things happen like semi rollovers in the trucking industry every day. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are over 1,300 tanker rollover accidents and 500 large truck rollover accidents that occur each year throughout the United States. Most of the accidents that do occur happen on dry, straight roads and highways. Being informed of the precautions will help reduce the risk of a rollover from happening to you.
How can you prevent rollovers from happening?
Slow down
Obey all posted truck speed limit signs while driving. Keeping the truck at a safe speed will allow the driver to be equipped with what is going on in traffic.
Go hands-free with your cell phone
Distracted driving should be avoided while driving such as any form of cellphone usage. Wear a headset that way you can be hands-free by being able to drive and shift and not having to be on your phone.
Do a pre-check over the truck before driving
Check for anything suspicious occurring in the brakes, suspension, or tires to reduce the chance of an accident occurring.
Make sure what you are hauling is tired down properly
Shifting loads can easily lead to a rollover occurring.
The main causes of rollovers:
Center of gravity
Large trucks and tankers have a greater center of gravity and are more susceptible to rollovers. When hulling liquids and shifting-solid loads creates additional forces on the truck’s center of stability and gravity. More than 90 percent of cargo tank rollovers occur while carrying partial loads. It is also important to always make sure your loads are tied down properly.
Driver error is responsible for the majority of all rollovers
Rollovers can occur to anyone at any given time so you can never be too comfortable behind the wheel. Lack of sleep, over correcting, making a turn too sharp of a turn are all factors that can result in rollovers.
Roadway conditions
Driving in the rain, high wind, snow, fog etc. weather conditions can cause the reduction of traction on the road. Decreasing speeds and increasing the distance between your truck and the car in front of you be safe on the road. Steep uphill grades limit the visibility that you can see and causes the load to shift around. This also is in effect going downhill as well.