Unfortunately, truck rollovers are a common occurrence, with at least one taking place every day. Despite them being so dangerously common, they are avoidable. We will be discussing the three common misconceptions that people have about rollovers, the real causes, and how drivers can prevent them.
Common Misconceptions about Rollovers
Bad Driving Conditions Cause the Majority of Rollovers
While extreme weather conditions can make driving difficult, only 4% of rollovers happened due to environmental factors. Furthermore, 93% of these accidents occur on dry roads, with two-thirds of them taking place in broad daylight. In addition, over 50% take place on straight roads rather than curves.
Speeding and Reckless Driving Cause Most Rollovers
Although speeding can make the chances of rolling over much higher, it’s responsible for less than half of all incidents. Furthermore, evasive maneuvers only account for about 5% of all incidents.
The rest of the incidents occur due to various other reasons.
Rollovers Only Happen to Inexperienced Drivers
Less than 40% of rollover incidents occur due to a driver’s inexperience. Most rollover incidents happen to drivers above the age of 25.
The Main Cause of Rollovers
Now that we have moved past a few of the most common myths, we can get to the real reasons why rollovers occur. There are three main reasons:
- Over 90% of rollovers happened because the driver was carrying a partial load
- A vehicle’s improper maintenance contributed to 54% of incidents
- Driver errors contributed to more the 75% of rollovers
How to Prevent Rollovers from Happening
Prevention is the best cure. Therefore, now that we understand why rollovers happen in the first place, we can now look at the best ways to prevent rollovers.
Avoid Driving When Drowsy
Most truck drivers suffer from some form of sleep apnea, which makes them more likely to fall asleep behind the wheel. If you start feeling sleepy or start dozing off, the best course of action is to stop driving and rest. Or if you have to make an important delivery, you should take a deep breath and get some light exercise.
Inspect Your Truck before Every Trip
Vehicle breakdowns are a common cause of rollovers. Therefore, you should get an inspection before heading out. Have a mechanic look at the vehicle’s breaks along with the suspension and other parts of the vehicle.
Obey the Speed Limit
Speeding can drastically increase the chances that your truck will tip over. Stay within the speed limit or drive a little slower if you’re carrying a heavier load.
Make Sure Your Cargo Is Secured
Finally, if the cargo slides around freely, the truck could lose balance. Strap down the load correctly and drive carefully if you know that it’ll move regardless. Finally, make sure that you drive slowly with the load, as the total weight could easily tip it over.
Conclusion
With a better understanding of how rollovers happen in the first place, it can be easier to prevent them.
