
“Alright, BRAKE!” said my instructor.”
I slammed on the brakes almost immediately. The Ram 1500 I was driving came to a screeching stop and a thick rubbery smell filled the air.
“Okay, good job. Now, tell me what you see.”
I responded: “I see a person on the right shoulder of the highway.”
“What else do you see?” he asked.
“Nothing” I replied, “just road.”
“Alright, turn your high beams on – what do you see now?” he asked.
As soon as I flipped the switch, it appeared. Less than 100 yards in front of us sat a tractor-trailer parked across the roadway – blocking it entirely. I could not believe how close we were. I never saw it.
Luckily, I was driving with a crash reconstructionist that night, on a closed course, an hour or so outside of Billings, Montana. I was attending a trucking litigation course for legal professionals taught by one of the foremost experts in trucking safety – Lew Grill.
This particular was exercise meant to demonstrate the conspicuity (visibility) issues present when cars interact with tractor- trailers at night. With my low beams on, the silver & gray trailer just looked like more road or horizon in the distance. It wasn’t until I flipped my high beams on that the reflective tape along the bottom edge of the trailer became visible.
This safety exercise left me with a pit in my stomach the rest of the evening.
At highway speeds, 100 yards of roadway only lasts a few seconds. Assuming that you see the obstacle with a few extra seconds to spare, it still takes a moment for you to perceive the obstacle and react. Even after you apply the brakes, it still takes more time and space for your
The Tennessee CDL Manual refers to this as “perception distance” or “the distance your vehicle travels, in ideal conditions; from the time your eye see a hazard until your brain recognizes it.” (TN CDL Manual Page 2-14). The Tennessee CDL Manual refers to this as “reaction distance” or “the distance you will continue to travel, in ideal conditions; before you hit the brakes, in response to a hazard seen ahead.” Id. vehicle to actually come to a complete stop. By the time you do, it could be too late.
This is what makes visibility and hazard recognition so important in terms of reducing motor vehicle collisions and roadway fatalities. In an effort to increase the visibility of tractor-trailers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has promulgated regulations that require various reflective devices and retroreflective tape to be placed on specific areas of both the tractor and its trailer. But even with these efforts, side impact collisions still occur and are
incredibly dangerous.
Who knows this?
Law enforcement, crash reconstruction experts, experienced trucking attorneys, and most importantly – trucking companies.
Why does it matter?
Trucking companies – let me qualify this – trucking companies that are concerned about safety have policies and procedures in place that instruct their drivers to NEVER attempt a “U-Turn” in a tractor-trailer.
Many have a policy in place that allows for drivers to be terminated immediately if they conduct a “U-Turn” in an 18-wheeler that results in a collision. Even more companies allow for varying levels of workplace discipline (including termination) – whether or not such a maneuver leads to a crash.
Why do these trucking companies have such policies in place? It is because they know how difficult it is for motorists to recognize the side of a trailer stretched across a roadway. For safe truck drivers, a executing a U-Turn in a tractor trailer is a never event; it should never happen.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a trucking collision, it is imperative that you hire an attorney with the knowledge and experience necessary to properly handle the case. Connect with Altizer Law to ensure your claim is managed with the attention it deserves. Dial 540.345.2000 or contact us today to start your journey towards fair compensation.
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