How Bad Weather Makes Truck Wrecks More Likely

Bad weather is never ideal for heavy truck drivers to take the road. It’s best to wait or prepare for a journey that sometimes leads to accidents. 

Weather conditions like heavy rain, snowfall, or blizzard are responsible for a large number of truck accidents in the U.S.

Many commercial vehicles face accidents because of poor road conditions caused by bad weather. 

Slippery roads make heavy vehicles lose control or jackknife, leading to fatal accidents. 

If you’re responsible for driving large-sized vehicles, go through this article to learn how to stay safe while driving in bad weather conditions.

How Does Bad Weather Increase the Chances of Accidents? 

Bad weather like rain, fog, or blizzards is extremely difficult for truck drivers. These situations cause difficult road conditions. When driving in bad weather, drivers struggle to control their vehicles. These weather conditions are strong wind, heavy rain leading to slippery roads, and blizzards and ice blurring the vision on your pathway. 

Following are some common bad weather conditions that increase the chances of accidents. 

Heavy Rain 

Heavy rain is among the most difficult weather conditions that makes driving heavy trucks difficult. It makes the driver’s vision blurry during driving and makes the road slippery, causing the drivers to lose control. Furthermore, sometimes, heavy rain and ice cause road hazards, increasing the chance of a collision. 

Trucks that are large and heavy in size must avoid driving in bad rainy weather conditions. If they must drive, it’s best to take necessary precautions before hitting the road.

Icy Roads 

Icy roads are also dangerous, similar to roads affected by heavy rain. Larger-sized vehicles like trucks need more time to accelerate, stop, and take turns. It becomes extremely difficult for these vehicles to maneuver through hazardous roads that are generally the result of snowfall. 

Ice makes large truck tires lose their grip and cause them to skid when speeding up. It also causes jackknifing, like a heavy wind would push the trailer of a large truck. Icy increases the chances of hydroplaning and makes the truck lose contact with the ground, causing an accident. 

Drivers must carefully manage speed and avoid sudden steering movements in these conditions. Even skilled drivers face higher risks on wet or icy roads, especially on downhill slopes or curves.

High Winds: The Danger of Jackknifing

High winds are deadly for truck drivers. It causes jackknifing. Due to jackknifing the trailer swings and creates an acute angle, which pushes the vehicle out of balance from the main engine. 

However, drivers will be able to reduce the chances of jackknifing by following some simple techniques:

• It’s best to drive slowly during high winds. Windy weather leads to jackknifing. 
• Bad braking causes difficulty in driving and leads to jackknifing and potentially an accident. 

For those affected by truck accidents caused by bad weather, it is important to seek justice after a trucking accident in Odessa. Proper legal guidance should help address the consequences of these preventable wrecks.

Safety Precautions Truck Drivers Must Take at All Times

Truck drivers must always have the best judgment when driving in harsh weather conditions. It’s mandatory for truck drivers to know that driving in such weather has effects on the truck’s traction, braking, and visibility. 

The U.S. Code of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) has some important parameters for truck drivers to know. Here are some regulations they must follow when driving in harsh condition

Excellent Judgement

What ensures safe driving and road practice is a truck driver’s excellent judgment of the surroundings. This means staying alert about the road, other vehicles, potential hazards, and non-commercial drivers on the road. They must pull over when the weather turns extremely harsh. 

Slowing Down

If you’re driving in a harsh weather condition where it’s raining or snowing, always build awareness about when to slow down. Two common side effects of bad weather are hydroplaning and jackknifing. A driver must be able to sense if the truck is losing traction or jackknifing. In both conditions, they must slow down. This also applies in conditions when the heavy rain is blurring their vision. 

Be Ready to Stop at Any Moment

Whether it’s bad weather or some other vehicle accident blocking the road, truck drivers must always stay prepared to stop the truck. 

Key Factors Behind Weather-Related Truck Accidents

Weather-related truck accidents involve several critical challenges that affect safety on the road. Key issues include driver behavior under adverse conditions and the reliability of the truck’s mechanical systems.

Not Building Situational Awareness

Drivers typically fail to understand their situations and avoid dangers leading to accidents. Whether driving a truck or any smaller vehicle, it’s important to build a strong awareness of the environment around you. It should help build situational awareness. 

Stay alert of potential hazards that affect your driving experience and lead to an accident. 

Not Understanding the Weather Condition

One of the key factors behind the growing number of truck accidents is the lack of knowledge about the weather. If you’re driving in an area with constant bad weather, it’s best to constantly stay updated with weather reports. This should help choose and avoid tracks during bad weather conditions. Furthermore, drivers must come up with strategies to reduce risk and improve maneuverability during bad weather. 

Error of Judgement on the Driver’s End

Driver error is one of the major reasons for truck crashes during bad weather. Drivers sometimes fail to reduce truck speed and maintain a safe distance from close objects when the visibility is too low. Furthermore, the roads being slick and slippery also raise the risk of collisions during difficult weather. 

Failing to Maintain the Vehicle and Equipment 

Lack of maintenance or lack of attention to maintenance potentially causes vehicle accidents, especially when the weather isn’t friendly for driving. Drivers and truck owners miss specific maintenance parameters such as:

• If the tires are worn out, it reduces traction on icy or wet surfaces. It will potentially lead to higher chances of accidents. 
• Brake system failure also leads to a catastrophic accident. 
• Take care of the lighting and the windshields of your vehicles before driving. Properly working signal lights, brakes, and wipers are critical for safe driving during bad weather.

Don’t Drive in a Bad Weather!

If it can’t be helped, take necessary precautions to drive safely in bad weather like heavy rain or snowfall. However, if you have a choice, it’s best to sit in the bad weather. Contact your fleet owner or manager to inform them about the weather conditions, and only drive if you must. 

For drivers who must take the road under difficult weather conditions, you must maintain a steady and slow speed. Also, ensure that your vehicle is in perfect condition and you are able to spot potential hazards on the road.