Driving too fast for conditions is defined as traveling at a
speed that is greater than a reasonable standard for safe
driving.13 Examples of
conditions where drivers may find themselves driving too fast
include: wet roadways (rain, snow, or ice), reduced visibility
(fog), uneven roads, construction zones, curves, intersections,
gravel roads, and heavy traffic.14 The Large Truck Crash Causation
Study (LTCCS) reported that 23 percent of large-truck crashes
occurred when Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) drivers were traveling too fast for conditions.15
Below are some tips that will help you maintain a
safe speed for various driving conditions.
TIP # 1: REDUCE YOUR DRIVING SPEED IN ADVERSE ROAD AND/OR
WEATHER CONDITIONS
Adjust your speed to safely match weather conditions, road
conditions, visibility, and traffic. Excessive driving speed is a
major cause of fatal crashes, 16 and higher speeds may cause more
severe crashes.17 The
Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) recently reported that
25 percent of speeding-related large-truck fatalities occurred
during adverse weather conditions.18
Did You Know? You should reduce your speed by
1/3 on wet roads and by 1/2 or more on snow packed roads (i.e., if
you would normally be traveling at a speed of 60 mph on dry
pavement, then on a wet road you should reduce your speed to 40
mph, and on a snow-packed road you should reduce your speed to 30
mph). When you come upon slick, icy roads you should drive slowly
and cautiously and pull off the road if you can no longer safely
control the vehicle.16
Did You Know? When it first starts to rain,
water mixes with oil on the road making it particularly slippery.16
Did You Know? Manufacturers generally advise
drivers not to use a retarder [also called a "Jake" brake] on
wet or slippery roadway conditions. In fact, a Safety Board
Investigation of a motor coach crash that occurred in Canon City,
Colorado, in December 1999, revealed that an enabled retarder
most likely triggered the loss of control and eventual crash of
the motor coach on a snow-covered and mountainous roadway.19
An example of a driver traveling too fast for
conditions is shown in the video clip below. Training exercise
questions follow the video clip.
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VIDEO DESCRIPTION: The CMV driver is traveling on a multi-lane highway on wet pavement at
night. Traffic is heavy and moving slowly. The driver is
inattentive and traveling too fast for conditions. Traffic slows
as the driver passes an emergency vehicle on the side of the road
and the driver has to brake quickly to avoid hitting the lead
vehicle. |
TRAINING EXERCISE: After viewing the video,
try to answer the following questions:
- Did the driver adjust his vehicle's speed considering the
traffic, road, and weather conditions?
- What caused the driver to brake excessively?
- What could the driver have done differently?
TIP # 2: ENTER A CURVE SLOWLY
Speed limits posted on curve warning signs are intended for
passenger vehicles, not large trucks. Large trucks should reduce
their speed even further. Studies have shown that large trucks
entering a curve, even at the posted speed limit, have lost
control and rolled over due to their high center of gravity.16
Did You Know? 40 percent of speeding-related
fatalities occur on curves.20
Did You Know? Braking in a curve can cause
the wheels to lock up and the vehicle to skid.16
An example of a driver traveling too fast for
conditions is shown in the video clip below. Training exercise
questions follow the video clip.
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VIDEO DESCRIPTION: The CMV driver is
traveling on an undivided, two-lane road at night. The driver
passes a curve warning sign but fails to reduce his speed. The
driver is traveling too fast when he enters the curve and has
trouble maintaining control of his truck. The driver has to brake
hard and crosses onto the right shoulder. |
TRAINING EXERCISE: After watching the video,
try to answer the following questions:
- Did the driver slow down enough to safely enter the upcoming
curve?
- What behavior indicates that the driver is driving too fast
for conditions?
- What could the driver have done differently?
TIP # 3: REDUCE YOUR SPEED BEFORE ENTERING AN EXIT/ENTRANCE
RAMP
Approach an exit/entrance ramp at a safe speed. Truck
rollovers are more likely to occur on exit/entrance ramps when
the driver misjudges the sharpness of the ramp curve and enters
the curve at an excessive speed.21
Did You Know? The posted speed limit on an
exit/entrance ramp generally shows the safe speed for a passenger
vehicle; the safe speed for a large truck is usually
significantly lower than the posted speed.13
Did You Know? Even though ramps and
interchanges make up less than 5 percent of all highway miles, 20
to 30 percent of all large-truck crashes occur on or near ramps.22
TIP # 4: DRIVE SLOWLY WITH A LOADED TRAILER
Be more cautious with a loaded trailer. Loaded trailers have a
higher center of gravity and sudden speed adjustment may cause
the load to shift, leading to skidding or a rollover.16
Did You Know? Large trucks with fully loaded
trailers are 10 times more likely to roll over than those with
empty trailers.23
Did You Know? Loaded trailers require 20 to
40 percent more braking distance than passenger vehicles to come
to a complete stop.24
TIP # 5: SLOW DOWN IN WORK ZONES
Before entering a work zone, decrease your speed, merge into
the correct lane well ahead of any lane closures, and be prepared
to slow down or stop suddenly.25 Speed increases
perception-reaction distance, braking distance, and stopping
distance.17
Did You Know? Nearly a quarter of all
work-zone deaths in 2006 involved a large truck.26
Did You Know? In October 2003, a CMV driver
was traveling at 60 mph in a 45 mph work zone on the Jane Addams
Memorial Tollway in Illinois. The truck driver rear-ended a
25-passenger bus. The crash caused a
five-vehicle pileup, killing 8 women and injuring about a dozen others. As a result of
the crash, the truck driver was charged and convicted of reckless
homicide and sentenced to 4 years in prison.27, 28
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