Truck Accident

Truck Size

Even more dangerous than the average truck are big trucks that exceed federal limits for weight and size. These overloaded trucks take longer to brake, are more prone to roll over in crashes, further minimize a passenger car occupant’s chance for survival, and damage roads and bridges at increased rates even when slightly overloaded.

88% of the American public is opposed to allowing bigger, heavier trucks on the highway. According to a poll, 78% are even willing to pay more in costs of goods and services in exchange for more stringent truck standards. In fact, many citizens and activists are calling for a freeze on the size and weight of trucks for several safety and damage reasons including the following:

Fatal Crashes
The chances of a truck being involved in a collision that includes a fatality increases with each extra ton of weight over the 80,000 pound gross vehicle weight that is the federal limit. In fact, a truck weighing even 80,000 pounds is twice as likely as a truck weighing 50,000 pounds to be involved in a fatal incident.

Road Damage
One 80,000-pound truck may do as much wear-and-tear damage to a highway as 9,600 passenger vehicles. Overloaded trucks do far more damage, yet do not pay in taxes and fees anywhere near the money proportionate to the increased damage.

Bigger Trucks
Trailer lengths continue to grow longer. The industry standard in the 1960s was 40 feet, in the 1970s 48 feet, in the late 1980s 53 feet. Some states even allow 57- and 59-foot trailers. Multiple-trailer trucks have serious handling problems that lead to instability, which can contribute to jackknifing, overturning, and lane encroachments.

Number of Trucks
Historically, even after federal increases in the allowed weight and size of trucks, the number of trucks on the road has not decreased. The number of trucks on the road, the number of trips, and the number of miles traveled have not decreased despite increases in truck weight and size allowances, and U.S. highways have not become safer.

Highway Accommodation
Most highways are not structured to accommodate the ever-increasing size of trucks. Even many interstate ramps are not built to allow passage of even a 48-foot trailer, much less the combination trucks carrying a 53-foot trailer. In addition, many highway driving lanes are too narrow to be safely negotiated by both passenger vehicles and trucks.

Braking Time
Overloaded trucks are not equipped with the adjustments needed to achieve even the stopping time of a large truck within the legal weight limits; loaded trucks take 20-40% longer to stop than cars, at least the length of a football field. A truck weighing 100,000 pounds with unadjusted brakes travels 25% further than an 80,000-pound truck; a 120,000-pound truck travels 50% further.

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