Types of Dangerous Road Conditions for Truck Drivers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations direct companies and drivers to discontinue operating their tractor trailer vehicles in dangerous conditions, order to avoid a truck driving accident. Regulation 49 CFR § 392.14 lists the following as hazardous conditions:

Snow, Ice, Sleet, Fog, Mist, Rain, Dust, and Smoke

When a truck driver encounters these conditions, he is to reduce speed and in certain circumstances, he is to cease the operation of his commercial vehicle. It is often recommended that truck drivers should reduce their speeds by 1/3 on wet roads and by ½ on snow packed roads. If the roads are icy or slick, it is recommended to stop operating the tractor trailer and not start again until the conditions have improved.

Despite the known dangers of operating a truck in dangerous road conditions, the operators of these vehicles often ignore the rules and regulations of their employers and the federal government. The drivers are often under pressure to have goods delivered in a certain amount of time and are concerned about being delayed because the hours of service regulations may require them to rest for ten hours if they reach a certain number of hours on duty.