The recent freak weather has underlined the need to drive safely, especially in adverse weather conditions.  Driving safely is even more important when the weather starts changing to the extent we even got snow and ice!  For many truckers who live over the road, encountering snow and ice is not unusual (though rarely welcome).  On the other, many drivers in the Houston region have only rarely, if ever encountered snow and ice, which means understanding the implications is even more important.

Reduce Your Speed

Your ability to steer and handle a rig is determined by the grip and friction generating capacity of the tires. If you travel at higher speeds, you lose friction but also you need to apply greater force to stop in time – that’s what all the smoke is from when you hit the brakes hard – friction causing heat build up and burning rubber. The problem is that if there is anything on the road or coming between the contact of tire and road, then friction is reduced dramatically.  Water does this which is why it takes longer to stop and you are more likely to skid.  When snow and ice are covering the road, then friction levels are dramatically reduced and you can only compensate for this by being equally dramatic in reducing your speed.

The trucker maxim, “Ice No Dice” also applies – do not let dispatch bully you into taking your rig out into conditions which are simply too dangerous to chance.

Increase Following Distance

Tailgating in circumstances when you cannot stop the rig in time is dumb under any circumstances.  When you travel too close to the vehicle in front during winter conditions, this is murderous.  Winter conditions will mean you must increase your stopping distances and this in turn means you have to have an increase in the following distance behind any vehicle in front of you.  The same applies to people following you, but there is very little you can do about someone being stupid and driving too closely to your rear.

You will need at least double to the stopping distance in wet conditions, and you may need even more in winter driving conditions.

Fortunately, snow and ice are not usual for the southwestern region, however with climate change maybe we’d all better start thinking about our driving styles.  Certainly, if you encounter adverse driving conditions, you should automatically slow down and gauge stopping distance for following vehicles in front of you.  It is better to be late than not to arrive at all.

Monday, Jan 10 2011: an eighteen wheeler collided in a high speed accident with a family sedan in the early hours in west Houston.  The accident occurred near the Silber Road exit of the Katy Freeway, and according to police, the driver of a Nissan Altima was attempting to drive around the big rig but collided with the rear of the eighteen wheeler instead.

Sedan Crashes into 18-Wheeler Truck: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

This accident seems to demonstrate what many truckers, and not just those in Houston but across the country, have been saying for years: car drivers need to improve their driving habits if trucking road safety is to be improved.  The Nissan driver reached speeds of 100 mph according to local police, in direct contrast to the legally observant speed of 55 mph by the truck.

The collision resulted in the Nissan Altima being totally destroyed (what do you expect when a 5,000 car hits an 80,000 pound big rig).  The Houston Fire Department managed to recover the driver and passenger who were transferred to Ben Taub General Hospital, the driver in critical condition though the passenger is believed to be stable.  The truck driver was unhurt in the collision, though was treated for shock.

Meanwhile, police investigators are trying to determine the exact cause of the accident, however at such excessive speeds, this was an accident waiting to happen and just happened to involve a truck.

Houston Truck Safety Record

Houston is a major logistical center for the country – fuelled by oil and a thriving port, eighteen wheelers and all manner of commercial vehicles are a fixture on roads in the area.  As recently as April 2010, a notable local attorney specializing in tractor trailer accidents, felt that one way to decrease the number of truck driver related accidents was to increase regulations.  (see the post by Baumgartner Law Firm here)

Rightly, Baumgartner cites the work and effect of the FMCSA, and also points to the tough economy resulting in drivers ending up behind the wheel who have no business being in a truck to begin with.

What Baumgartner does not mention is that truck driving injuries and fatalities have been dropping.  In large part this is because of the trucking industry responding positively to regulation and safety concerns.  Concerns which should increasingly become reduced with more focused and targeted safety monitoring through the new CSA program.

At the same time, with so many truckers having lost their jobs, many of the drivers who have been fortunate enough to stick around through the recession have in fact, got good records.  The bottom of the industry has been hit far harder during the recession.

To improve truck road safety, the focus needs to switch from “bad” truckers to “suicidal” road users, which is an argument borne out by this particular accident.

A Houston truck driver has sued his employer, US Food Service, over a poorly maintained vehicle.  The trucker was involved in an accident and claims the poorly maintained equipment contributed to the incident.

The accident occurred on I-10 in Orange County, TX; according to the driver, the truck started shaking and swerved to the right-hand side of the road, striking a parked vehicle and then flipping over.  The truck driver suffered injuries, for which he is claiming compensation and medical expenses, but fortunately no-one else was hurt in the incident, though there was collateral property damage.

The truck driver states he advised US Food Service on multiple occasions of the truck defects and the need for repair, but was ignored.  This is a story which is repeated across the country, but it highlights the need for a proper maintenance and repair schedule as well as the owner’s responsibility to ensure that not only the driver is fit to drive but also the equipment is road worthy.

Generally, as many tractor trailer accidents are caused by poorly maintained equipment, as by other road users behaving irresponsibly around big rigs. If a need for repair is identified, it needs to be addressed immediately or if not, the equipment should not be allowed out on the road.  If a carrier fails to abide by its duty to maintain and use safe equipment, then it will be held to be negligent.

In this instance, US Food Service is not only facing the cost of the accident with its loss of equipment, but also damages for mental anguish and hefty medical bills.  There is also the cost to the reputation of the business itself; whenever there is a trucking accident, it looks bad for the carrier and the driver, as well as the loss of reputation in the eyes of the public and customers.

While the bulk of attorneys looking for business within the lucrative tractor trailer accident niche represent other motorists, there is an increasing legal business growing around suing employers.  If a truck driver is injured or suffers as a result of using poorly maintained or defective equipment, there is a right of action against the trucking company.  The bottom line: make sure the equipment you are using is in good condition, well maintained on a regular basis and that you document what is done and when – always make sure the equipment being employed is road worthy.

This post on the Whistleblower blog highlights another case involving truck safety rules and every carrier/employer should read it.

Collision Avoidance System  

For most truckers, another day on the highway is just another day on the job; and driving—even in hazardous conditions—is a piece of cake. But even the best drivers and most professional truck drivers can have an accident. For drivers in Freightliner trucks, however, technology is making the chances of those accidents more rare.  

While Freightliner’s new truck models are equipped with standard safety equipment and sturdy parts, they also come outfitted with a new innovation—the OnGuard Collision Safety System. The system, which is radar-based and was designed by Meritor-Wabco, causes the truck to slow down when it exceeds a certain following distance.  

Because truckers can easily become tired or distracted, it is relatively easy to unwittingly tailgate, a situation which can cause an accident should the vehicle in front of the truck suddenly break. The OnGuard Collision system helps decrease the number of these accidents by sensing objects up to 500 feet away through radar technology. The system then sends a signal to the engine, transmission, and break system in order to slow down the vehicle. To notify the driver, the system also emits an alarm in the cab.  The system can only be used when a vehicle is operated using cruise control.  

Available on the Cascadia and Century Class fleets, the alarm system has already been installed on more than 500 trucks, and plans include fitting the system to at least 400 more. In the future, the system’s designer hopes to offer it with more features and for more trucks. In fact, the company hopes to offer a model that can be used when a driver is not using cruise control.  

For truckers considering a new truck purchase, the new technology makes even more attractive the Freightliner models, which already offer state-of-the-art components to make the trucks superior models in both longevity and safe performance.  In fact, some of the trucks’ featured characteristics include quieter cabs and more powerful engines. Perfect combinations of power and safety, the trucks are tempting purchases for many truckers.  

But for truckers who want a little increased safety without the price and hassle of a new truck, tailgate detection systems that can be mounted on a variety of vehicles exist. For example, Kouba makes a tailgating detection system that uses directional sensors. 

Whether you want to buy a new Freightliner outfitted with the system or just pick up a stand alone tailgating detection system, newly developed technologies that emit alarms and slow down vehicles when a following distance is compromised are contributors to highway safety. In addition to backing up cameras, intensive LED lights, and even security systems, the new technology continues to make the world of trucking even safer for every professional.

Tornado Preparation

Just a short time ago, a tornado ravaged Myanmar. There are frequent tornadoes spotted throughout the Midwest. Though the company that you drive for probably has regulations about what to do in a tornado or high wind storm, as the weather changes from spring to summer to fall, being prepared to encounter severe weather, like a tornado, on the road is necessary for your safety. Fortunately, in the wake of the recent tornados, the media has made it an objective to educate the public, especially those on the road, about what to do in the event of weather related emergencies.

Although tornados can spring up at any time of day or night with little warning, tornado preparation while on your route is possible. One of the best ways to be prepared is to keep your weather radio on with charged or fresh batteries. In weather lingo, a tornado warning means a storm is expected to arise and a tornado warning means a storm has been spotted. If a tornado warning is announced, meteorologists will generally give the expected locations of the tornado and speed, so you can be best prepared. Speaking with truckers on your CB radio as they head the other direction is also a good way to gauge the weather you’re heading into, although weather is subject to fast and unpredictable change.

Though storm chasing shows can be interesting and fun to watch, the Federal Emergency Management Agency advises anyone driving during a tornado to get out of the vehicle as soon as possible, whether that means relocating to a safer outdoor area or pulling over at a truck stop, gas station, or other place of business. Though staying in your truck might seem safer than being outside, even large semi-trucks can be easily lifted by tornados. Also, because the storm can change direction very quickly, trying to out-drive a tornado is never a good policy, even if it seems possible.

If you are in an area where you can get indoors, head to basement, or if not possible, the lowest floor, or an interior hallway with no windows. In a truck stop, the showers are probably the safest places to seek shelter during a tornado.

If you are driving along a rural highway when a tornado strikes, and cannot find indoor shelter, authorities advise seeking low lying ground, like a ditch, and using your hands to protect your head and neck. Because flooding can occur with severe wind storms and tornados, being aware of your surroundings, whether inside or outside, is key.

With an average of 1,000 tornados per year, the United States has more tornados than any other country in the world, according to USA Today. Tornados have hit every state, though they are most frequent in Tornado Alley, the Western area of Kansas, Oklahoma, part of Texas, etc. Regardless of where you are driving, however, you should be aware that a tornado can strike at any time. Armed with a weather radio and these guidelines, you’ll be sure to keep a cool head and know what to do should disaster strike.