A Way to Reduce Tractor Trailer Rollovers
After an inordinate number of tractor trailer rollovers in some parts of Canada last year, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is trying to convince all North American manufacturers of class 8 tractors (more commonly known as tractors or big trucks with fewer than five axles and transporting a single trailer) to make anti-rollover technology standard in these new vehicles immediately.
Big trucks, or tractors as they are more accurately called, are a threat to roll over on the roads for a variety of reasons including: driving too fast around turns or curves (you have probably seen the road signs in Florida and elsewhere warning 18 wheeler and tractor trailer drivers of the possibility that their vehicle may tip over on a sharp turn or curve), not properly loading or securing the load in the trailer causing it to shift and making it more unstable and quick evasive maneuvers by the tractor trailer driver in response to road conditions or the driving of others. Of course, given the size and weight of these tractor trailers, if one rolls over on the road, the potential for injury and damage is great.
The anti-rollover technology helps to prevent tractors from rollovers by sensing when the vehicle is becoming unstable and automatically taking countermeasures such as reducing the throttle and applying the brakes to help the driver avoid a rollover and regain control of the tractor trailer. As of the publication of this article in late 2007, this rollover technology was standard on two of the manufacturers' new class 8 tractors, and the others only offered the technology as an option. This anti-rollover technology is similar to the electronic stability control systems and similar systems found standard in many newer model SUV's.
While the technology will not be able to prevent tractor trailer drivers from rolling over and causing injury accidents on the road, more pervasive use of stability control systems will likely help to prevent some accidents and reduce the number and severity of injuries resulting from some tractor trailer-involved accidents when they do occur.
