Ohio, a bustling state with a significant presence of semi trucks on its highways, experiences its share of accidents involving these large vehicles each year. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Ohio saw 3,969 crashes involving big trucks in 2022. These accidents injured 1,769 people and killed 140.
Reducing the incidence of semi-truck accidents requires a collaborative effort.
Top causes of truck accidents
Several factors contribute to semi-truck accidents in Ohio:
Excessive speeds and aggressive driving behaviors, such as tailgating, significantly contribute to semi-truck accidents.
Long hours on the road can lead to driver fatigue, impairing reaction times and decision-making. Impairments caused by fatigue are similar to those from alcohol and drug use.
Malfunctions or failures in the truck’s mechanical components pose a risk. Faulty brakes and worn tires often fail, causing drivers to lose control of their trucks.
Ohio experiences various weather conditions, including snow and heavy rain. Adverse weather can amplify the challenges of operating large trucks, contributing to accidents.
Trucks have unusually large blind spots. Truckers often can not see vehicles in these areas, increasing the chances of collisions.
Additionally, Ohio has the dubious distinction of having the fifth-worst drivers by state in the U.S. With traffic often heavy in and around Columbus, truckers may find it difficult to avoid collisions.
Trucks take longer to stop than cars because of their bigger size and weight. The sheer mass of a truck makes it harder to come to a quick stop. Traveling at 65 mph, a car needs 316 feet to stop, with trucks requiring 525 feet. This difference in stopping ability can lead to accidents, especially if drivers of smaller cars do not realize how much space a truck needs to brake.
Injury risks in semi-truck accidents
Tractor-trailer accidents often result in a heightened risk of injuries due to the sheer size and weight of these vehicles. Occupants of smaller vehicles involved in collisions with large trucks face a higher likelihood of severe injuries, including fractures, head trauma and spinal injuries.
Help avoid truck accidents
Car drivers can enhance road safety by understanding and respecting the challenges faced by trucks. Maintain a safe following distance, avoid sudden lane changes in front of trucks and do not linger in blind spots. Being mindful of a truck’s longer stopping distance and providing ample space during maneuvers contributes to a safer coexistence on the road, reducing the risk of accidents involving trucks.