According to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 11% of deaths in motor vehicle accidents happened with large truck accidents. Because trucks are so much bigger than the average-sized car, accidents involving these trucks can lead to serious injuries and even death.
By knowing the common causes of truck accidents, it becomes much easier to prevent them from happening. Here are the 7 most common causes of truck accidents.
1. Speeding and Overtaking
One of the most common causes of truck accidents is speeding and overtaking. One of the biggest reasons why this is so dangerous for truck drivers is that their larger vehicles take much more time to slow down. If they are speeding, then their reaction times are much lower and they may lose control.
Often, truck drivers speed because they have deadlines to reach their destination. Other times trucks may speed on bad roads because they feel like their truck can handle it. By avoiding speeding and avoiding trucks that are speeding on the road, you can prevent many accidents.
Overtaking is similar to speeding. If a truck is passing a vehicle that is going the same direction, especially when the lane is merging, it may force other drivers off the road.
2. Distracted Driving
Another huge issue for drivers (both truck drivers and other motorists alike) is distracted driving. While the most common type of distracted driving is from cell phones and other types of technology, there are many others that drivers need to avoid.