Driving through Indiana often means being surrounded by semis, especially if you are on major roads and highways. As the home of the “Crossroads of America,” large trucks often make their way across the country through our state.
However, driving near semis can be extremely dangerous. What might be a minor collision with two passenger cars can quickly become a violent crash when there is a semi involved.
Here’s what you should know about some of the newest safety features that may help prevent truck crashes.
What makes semis dangerous?
Large trucks often weigh 20-30 times the average passenger car. These trucks carry heavy loads making them difficult to stop, especially when going fast on major highways.
A longer time to stop also means that the driver has less time to react when there are sudden changes on the road ahead and around them. This is why rear-end crashes are among the most common type of collision with these large vehicles.
Forward collision warning
As researchers and scientists look for ways to prevent crashes, new trucks are coming equipped with equipment such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) and forward collision warning technology.
A recent study looked at the number of crashes in trucks with all or some of these new features compared to trucks without them. Researchers found a 22% decrease in crashes compared to those with neither of these assets.
Driving safely near semis
When sharing the road with a semi, it is crucial to consider the limitations a truck driver may have with handling such a large vehicle. It is essential to avoid following too closely or merging ahead of a truck without enough space.
While these additional features to semis may not completely resolve crashes, they seem to be a step toward reducing the number of collisions.
