The Two Types of Bad Truck Visibility

Of the total number of accidental deaths in the United States involving motor vehicles, over 4,000 have to do with heavy trucks. What is more, the victims of such truck accidents are not the occupants or operators of the trucks, but that of the other vehicle(s) involved, or else pedestrians. Thus, the peril of truck accidents falls on those who strike or will be struck by these heavy trucks or their payloads (e.g., trailers or tractors). The most prominent cause of such truly avoidable disasters lies in the two types of visibility affecting road safety.

Invisible Roving Hazards

The first type of visibility concern is the conspicuity of the truck on the road especially at nighttime. A 1995 study on visibility and car-truck accidents quotes conspicuity as "the property of a peripherally located object that is likely to lead to the object's detection." Conspicuity also includes "not only that attribute of a vehicle that calls attention to itself as a stimulus, but also those attributes that contribute to the recognition of a stimulus as a vehicle and the general understanding of what the vehicle is doing relative to the observer."

Driving in poorly lit roads and under fatigue are situations in which reflective sheeting will be most crucial in avoiding truck accidents. The reflectors should outline trucks and trailers in order for other motorists to assess distance and breadth from the trucks as quick and as accurate as can be managed.

As well, the required lamps should be installed and in working order to increase visibility. Without these simple but critical equipment, trucks become large, invisible hazards on the highways, or as many concerned citizens have taken to calling, roving guillotines.

Limited Truck Vision

Bad visibility also means the truck driver's limited ability to see other vehicles and pedestrians. Most vehicles are taught not to drive too close to trucks. Particularly, the blind sides of a truck are directly along both sides and directly behind it. Driving too close beside a truck renders a vehicle invisible, making a collision imminent should the trucker decide to move to the lane on which the other vehicle is on.

Similarly, positioning in the immediate area behind a truck is dangerous. The truck will no doubt hit the vehicle if it shifts to reverse. As well, the vehicle driving too close won't be able to see the traffic conditions up ahead, causing them to poorly anticipate and adjust to potential problems and hazards.

All motor vehicle accidents are truly preventable. One effective way to keep them from happening is for motorists to up their visibility on the road to others and to ensure that the other motorists are visible to them.

This article is intended solely for general knowledge purposes. The content should not be considered and is not legal advice. If you are need of legal help, speak with a Truck Accident Lawyer in IL immediately.