Arnold & Itkin – Rear-end accidents involving large trucks are not only one of the most common types of traffic collisions, but they are also often the most likely to cause catastrophic injury or death.
A smaller vehicle, if it rear-ends a truck, will sustain damage at the front of the vehicle and may “underride” or go underneath the trailer.
Even if the driver directly behind a semi manages to stop in time, the driver behind them may still rear-end and push their vehicle into the truck’s trailer. This puts the occupants of the smaller vehicle at risk of experiencing extreme injuries.
Why do these accidents happen? Most rear-end crashes can be attributed to bad habits like following too closely, but distracted driving is a leading culprit as well.
A distracted driver will not notice traffic slowing or even stopping ahead until it’s too late. They may not see the brake lights of the vehicle in front of them, even when that vehicle is an 80,000-pound semi-truck.
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Distracted driving is responsible for about one-third of traffic fatalities in the U.S. each year, and when a distracted driver runs into the back of a truck, the worst injuries can occur.
Trucks have long been retrofitted with brake lights and reflective tape on their trailers to improve visibility and inform drivers that they are applying their brakes, but one trucking company saw room for improvement.
However, it took bending the rules to achieve the desired result.
Groendyke Goes Rogue & Installs Amber Lights on Their Tanker Trucks
Since 1932, tanker truck carrier Groendyke Transport has placed an unparalleled emphasis on safety.
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The company has long been known for its safety record and focus on accident prevention, and it is the only eight-time winner of the National Tank Truck Carriers North American Safety Champion award …