Large trucks include vehicles such as tractor-trailers, single-unit trucks, and heavy cargo vans whose gross weight is above 10,000 pounds. Any time a large-truck accident occurs, its a serious matter because the size of the truck makes it very destructive. Accidents can be caused by a car driver, the driver of the truck itself, or poor road or weather conditions.
Traffic jams are one of the major causes of traffic accidents, perhaps because people can be impatient and unpredictable when they arent able to move. Traffic jams usually occur during rush hour, because of road work, because of another crash.
What do car and truck drivers do wrong?
Car drivers and truck drivers both sometimes go too fast and drive when they are too tired. According to a 2006 study for Congress by the U.S. Department of Transportation, however, a truck driver is more likely to be going too fast, and a car driver is more likely to make driving mistakes and to be too tired. Although any driver can make a mistake, truck drivers are less likely to be considered the cause of the accident than car drivers are.
Car Driver Mistakes
Driving behind or beside the truck where the driver either cant see them at all or can only partially see them. Sometimes car drivers also drive between two trucks, which is not a safe position for a car to be in if something happens unexpectedly.
Driving in an erratic, unpredictable way when passing, changing lanes, or making turns.
Failing to take into account the differences in maneuverability between a large truck and a car when stopping, pulling into traffic, or merging, so that the large-truck driver cant possibly respond fast enough.
Go too slow or too fast when a truck is merging or changing lanes.
Large-Truck Driver Mistakes
May not be adequately trained about safe, defensive driving techniques.
May be under too much pressure to get from one location to another, and either havent gotten enough rest or havent adequately maintained the large truck. Brake problems are more frequent with trucks than cars.
