Tractor Trailer Underride Accidents.
What is a Tractor Trailer Underride Accident?Tractor-Trailer underride accidents occur when a passenger vehicle, usually the front of the passenger vehicle, enters below the base of the trailer of a large truck (e.g., 18-wheeler). This is particularly possible with small family passenger cars (as opposed to a mini-van or SUV). Unfortunately, the height of the front of the car is insufficient to contact the bed of the truck, often 10 to 20 inches below the bed of the truck. This puts the bed of the truck right at the head-chest level of the passengers within the car. Injuries in these accidents tend to be catastrophic, if not fatal.
Why doesn't the driver just slow down to prevent an underride accident?A tractor-trailer truck is pretty big... so why doesn't the car driver see the tractor trailer in time to prevent a underride accident? Unfortunately, perception and reality meet too late in these circumstances. Often the driver is fooled into thinking that the roadway is clear. Simply, the passenger car driver does not have adequate warning of the impending trailer underride danger. What is being done to improve driver perception or trailer safety?Since 1993, trucks must have a special type of reflective tape on the rear and sides of the trailer.
Since 1996, trucks must also be equiped with a rear underride guard (strong metal structure) at a height of 22 inches above the ground, so that it will easily come in contact with the engine block of a small car, and thus prevent the car from underriding the bed of the tractor truck trailer. However, it is sad news that many trucks have not been retrofitted. Thus, many tractor trailer trucks manufactured before 1996 are on the road without these two critical safety features. In addition, even ones that have had these features installed may have insufficient protective qualities, such as an inadequate amount of reflective material or a rear underride guard that is too weak to prevent underride of the passenger vehicle. What are other factors that play into a rear underride accidentWeather.
Especially fog, snow, or rain that reduces the distance of visibility. Fog and snow are a huge problem, since they often mask the grey or white color of many trucks. Driver carelessness. If the driver is momentarily inattentive, they may not see a trailer that has been inadequately pulled to the side of the road, or a trailer that is across the highway as the result of a u-turn or a wide turn in the case of a truck entering a roadway. The positioning of the truck may cause a trailer underride accident.
Road conditions. Slick road conditions increase the stopping time for a car approaching a tractor trailer underride situation. Surrounding (ambient) lighting which can reflect off of the truck and cause the truck to blend in with its surrounding, forming a sort of accidental camaflouge, especially on a silver truck. In fact often the reflective red/oraqnge colors match the neon lights from surrounding businesses. Road lighting.
A lack of road lighting can make it very difficult to see the outline of the tractor truck's trailer. Especially a dark colored trruck trailer such as a dark blue, brown or black trailer. This makes it nearly impossible for the driver of the passenger car to see the truck in time to stop and prevent a trailer underride. Dirty tractor trailers case accidents. When dirt collects on the reflective tape, it becomes inefficeint at reflecting light and loses its protective warning qualities.
Frequent washing of the truck is a must to give the passenger car driver a chance to prevent a side underride accident with the tractor trailer! What is the most common danger that creates a Tractor Trailer Underride Accident?Truck driver making a u-turn or a wide-turn. This is not a sudden u-turn. Rather, this is a situation where often the truck has made it already half way around. In fact, the cab of the truck is often facing the oncoming traffic. That fact makes it even more deceiving to the oncoming traffic, since they belive that the truck is already facing them, with the trailer straight behind it, rather than reality - with the tractor truck's trailer stretched across the oncoming car's path of transit..
Motor Carriers Need Preparation to Ward off Big Rig Terror Attack
New York, NY (ContentDesk) August 27, 2005 -- Terry M. Evans, Chairman and CEO of Fleet Defender Consulting Services, LLC, told radio listeners this morning that a coordinated terrorist attack using large trucks and/or buses might wreak havoc on the nation's economy if carriers are not prepared to prevent it. As guest of Alfred McComber, on FOX News affiliate WMET's nationally distributed early morning talk show CODE RED!, Mr. Evans warned that we need to do more to get drug-addicted drivers out of trucks, lock down the CDL licensing process, and help fleet owners to implement more physical and operational security in their fleets.Right now, he said, fleet owners are economically discouraged from implementing strong security measures even if they want to do so.Fleet Defender (www.fleetdefender.com) provides the transportation industry with services and support aimed at reducing their exposure to the threat of terrorism..
Motor Carriers Need Preparation to Ward off Big Rig Terror Attack 
Trucks > Motor Carriers Need Preparation to Ward off Big Rig Terror Attack
Super Duty: FORD The Better Or FORD The Worst?
Ford Motor Co. has earlier unveiled its all-new lineup F-Series Super Duty truck lineup which includes 2008 F-450. The latest lineup will be couple with the biggest pickup production ever made by the automaker.
Early next year, Ford's redesigned version of huge pickup vehicles will be having their debut. To add extra charisma to Ford Super Duty trucks, the automaker has added towing capacity, refined suspension, innovative tailgate, 6.4-liter diesel engine and other exceptional features.
Some analysts expressed their impression about the debut of the latest Ford trucks. Erich Merkle, an analyst with IRN Inc.
noted, "The Super Duty is incredibly important for Ford because, not only does it represent some pretty serious volume for them, (but) it's also quite profitable. Of course, these days, every launch is critical for Ford."
On one side, some analysts have noted their...
Trucks > Super Duty: FORD The Better Or FORD The Worst?
Do Your Part For The Environment, Your Health, And Your Wallet
Vehicle owners nationwide have the same complaint; the high price of gasoline. It's as if you're going to work just to pay for the gas to fill up your tank. Everyone knows when the price of oil goes up, the cost of everything else rises. And the price of keeping your engine running smooth always puts you back in the hole financially.People who dwell in larger cities constantly breathe in poisons released in the air. Research on this pollution problem is well established.
Pollutants coming from cars and trucks are responsible for lung disease, lung cancer and asthma. But that's not all. New research has shown that the poisons coming from our cars and trucks are responsible for increases in many types of cancers, heart disease, and even Alzheimer's disease.An Easy Way to Help Stop Pollution and Save Your LungsA good suggestion would be to find a product that reduces toxicity in the air, while extending the life expectancy of your car's engine. Ideally, the product should be effective...
Do Your Part For The Environment, Your Health, And Your Wallet
Trucks > Do Your Part For The Environment, Your Health, And Your Wallet
Government Auto Auctions: Drive Away With a Steal of a Deal
Mt Holly, NJ (ContentDesk) January 9, 2006 -- On October 26, 2005 in Del Rio, Texas a government seized 2000 Mitsubishi Galant was sold at a government auto auction for $900. A 2001 Ford E-350 van was sold at a government auto auction for $1,800 on October 8, 2005 in Laredo, TX. A bidder at a government auto auction in Nogales, Arizona picked up a 2005 Chevy Astro with less than 21,000 miles for $4,000 on November 10, 2005.Any member of the public who is a licensed driver and at least 18 years of age is eligible to bid at government auto auctions. Registration is FREE. Government seized and surplus autos and other vehicles are sold by internet auctions, live auctions, sealed bid auctions, negotiated price, fixed price and drop-by sales.
Here are some auction tips:1. Find a Government Auto Auction Near You - Government auto auctions are held all over the U.S. and Canada. Information about the auction locations, dates, times, and participation instructions can be found at
Government Auto Auctions: Drive Away With a Steal of a Deal
Trucks > Government Auto Auctions: Drive Away With a Steal of a Deal
Sharing The Road Safely With Commercial Vehicles
(NC) ? Since the 1970s, the number of vehicles on Canada's roads has increased by 80 per cent. Despite this dramatic increase in traffic, the number of road fatalities has been cut by more than half.While every province and territory is responsible for highway safety by enforcing laws and maintaining highway infrastructure, Transport Canada is improving the safety of our roads by funding upgrades to parts of the national highway system. But better roads are not the only answer to our road safety challenges. Smarter driving is needed to keep our road safety records improving. Awareness of commercial vehicles is an important part of this.In 1999, crashes involving commercial vehicles resulted in 556 fatalities and 11,591 injuries.
According to Transport Canada, drivers of passenger vehicles need to be aware that commercial vehicles often manoeuvre much differently than cars or light trucks.Learning about how different types of commercial vehicles operate can help drivers to better...
Sharing The Road Safely With Commercial Vehicles
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Pickup Trucks and SUV Sales Recovered a Bit
Toyota is enjoying its sales share in the automotive world. Earlier, it was revealed that the September sales of pickup trucks and sport utility vehicle have slightly rebounded. Nonetheless, it is said that the increase in sales is not sufficient to preclude General Motors as well as DaimlerChrysler from losing shares to Toyota.
Several factors like declining gas prices, higher incentives and lower interest rates have contributed much to increase the sales of light trucks. The latter has increased by 1.2 percent. On one hand, passenger car sales dropped by 5.5 percent.
This information was revealed by Ward's AutoInfoBank. Moreover, those automakers that have relied on their pickups and SUVs greatly benefited from the increase.
However, Toyota's sales percentage is soaring like a rocket. In fact, it has surged more than 20 percent and overshadowed other auto giants. According to Jesse Toprak of Edmunds.com, "Toyota has the right image, said,...
Trucks > Pickup Trucks and SUV Sales Recovered a Bit
A Guide to Mobility Scooters
Advancements in mobile and battery technology have made it possible for many physically impaired individuals to replace wheelchairs with mobility scooters.
Mobility scooters provide greater range of movement than manual or motorized wheelchairs, by allowing the operator to make tighter turns and move over a variety of surfaces with less effort. The batteries hold larger charges for longer periods of time, allowing an individual to leave home with little concern.
...
Trucks > A Guide to Mobility Scooters
How to Get the Best Fuel Mileage This Summer
Summer has not yet arrived but soon enough, it would already be felt. And when summer arrives, it means fun and a lot of driving to vacation spots for many people. However, with the gas prices skyrocketing, it would not be a surprise to find many people opting to take lesser and shorter trips.
According to the Department of Energy (DOE), the gas price already averages some $2.60 a gallon which is 40 cents greater compared to the prices of just a year ago. To assist motorists...
Trucks > How to Get the Best Fuel Mileage This Summer
Tractor Trailer Underride Accidents. florists
Land For Sale in California?s Gold Rush Country
Own a piece of the old west in historic Amador County. This beautiful "grain flat" parcel in located in the Mother Lode area where the wineries of the Shenandoah Valley are becoming the new Napa Valley. This Willow Creek Ranch Estates property your buyer is waiting to see. Ranch land in the Mother Lode Wine Country ready for homesteading, horses and cattle with a fractional interest in the nearby four-acre lake. Only 35 miles from the State Capitol.
Useable land with serene foothill...
Tractor Trailer Underride Accidents. Trucks Land For Sale in California?s Gold Rush Country
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