A truck following too close is a recipe for disaster. However, a disaster can be avoided if the truck driver knows proper stopping distances and keeps his tractor trailer under control, especially in heavy traffic situations.
The interstate highway system is for the use of all of us-private individuals and commercial trucks as well. And we have to share the road. In order for all of us to be safe, we must follow the traffic rules and regulations. However, cars and trucks are completely different vehicles. For example, because of their size, tractor trailers take a longer distance to stop than do average normal personal automobiles. In order to prevent deadly accident, a truck following too close must be avoided!
I-85 in Greenville SC is a heavily traveled interstate highway connecting Atlanta and Charlotte with Greenville sitting in between. Also, many commuters in the Greenville metro region use I-85 in their daily commute. So I-85 a highway that is used by commercial trucks as well as individuals in their personal cars. Commercial tractor trailers and normal vehicles must co-exist on I-85 in order for everyone to be safe.
Commercial trucks are different than cars. In fact, it takes a special license to operate a commercial tractor trailer. Truck drivers are trained professional drivers. Commercial trucks turn differently than do cars. The visibility from the seat of a commercial truck is different than from a normal car.
Stopping distance of a Tractor Trailer. It takes more distance to stop a tractor trailer than it takes for a normal car to stop. Thus, tractor trailers should keep more space between it and the cars ahead of it. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/driver-safety/cmv-driving-tips-following-too-closely some good rules of thumb regarding stopping distance of a tractor trailer are as follows: when travelling under 40 mph, there should be kept 1 second of distance for every 10 feet of vehicle length. Thus, for most commercial tractor trailers, the space should be about 4 seconds between the truck and a car ahead of it. When travelling over 40 mph, a tractor trailer should keep 2 seconds of distance for every 10 feet of vehicle length.
The traffic conditions dictate adequate space. A truck following too close does not provide the necessary adequate space. The law requires every vehicle, including tractor trailers to drive at a speed that is safe for the conditions then and there existing. Thus, in high or heavy traffic situations, a tractor trailer must operate at a speed and space that will allow the driver to stop or slow down when traffic suddenly stops. A tractor trailer driver must be prepared to stop suddenly in high or heavy traffic situations. That’s common sense because we all know that in stop and go traffic, vehicle can and often must stop suddenly. Thus, a tractor trailer must keep plenty of distance in order to stop and must travel at a speed that allows the tractor trailer to stop.
Whenever there is a collision between a tractor trailer and a vehicle, there are usually very serious injuries and often death. A wreck caused by a truck following too close will usually end up causing serious injuries and death. A heavy tractor trailer slamming into a stopped car just by the acceleration of forces will result in painful injuries for the occupant of the car. But these injuries can be avoided if the trained professional truck drier knows the dynamics and rules of proper stopping distance and keeps a very safe distance between it and the cars in front. A truck following too close is bad news that should be avoided.