Driving Too Fast for Conditions

A truck driver should not travel at a speed that is unreasonable for safe driving in the current road and weather conditions. The conditions that truck driver will encounter are many.  The weather conditions may reduce the visibility for the operator of a commercial vehicle. The roads on which the driver operates his tractor trailer may be dangerous because of being uneven, curved, and covered with gravel. Additionally, the presence of construction work on the roadway may affect the ability to see and may increase the flow of traffic on a given roadway.

Reducing Speeds on Curved Roads

Drivers failing to reduce speed when entering a curve is yet another one of the most common causes of truck accidents and injuries.  The Department of Transportation has noted that 40 percent of speeding related fatalities occur on curved roads. · National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2005). Analysis of Speeding-Related Fatal Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes. (DOT HS publication No. 809 839). (pg. 1). Washington, D.C: Author.   Traveling at the speed limit is not enough – a truck pulling a trailer has a higher center of gravity which makes it more difficult to safely navigate a curve at the regular speed limit.

Accidents Near Interchanges and Exit Ramps

Missouri and St. Louis Highway and Interstate roads often have exits and interchanges with sharp curves.  Truck accidents frequently occur because the drivers of large commercial vehicles travel too fast for these curves. A truck is more likely to have difficulty making a sharp turn on an exit ramp because of its high center of gravity. Additionally, a tractor trailer needs more distance to slow down because of its weight, especially when carrying a loaded trailer. These frequent truck accidents on exit ramps and exchanges cause serious personal injuries to the unsuspecting drivers of passenger vehicles.