Truck accidents happen for a variety of reasons. For example, a truck driver may misjudge a curve’s severity and enter a curve too fast, or a trucker may make a sudden maneuver to avoid a crash. In either of these situations, it is likely that a truck would lose traction and control.
When a truck driver loses control, the truck may rollover, jackknife, or end up off the road. Not only are truck drivers at risk for injuries in rollover accidents, but all drivers and passengers sharing the road with large trucks are in danger when trucks lose control. This is why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced electronic stability control (ESC) systems will be required on heavy trucks and large buses.
What Is Electronic Stability Control?
Electronic stability control will kick in when the system detects skidding. ESC automatically applies the appropriate wheel’s brake to increase traction and get the truck back to the driver’s intended direction.
ESC is nothing new; many cars on the road today are equipped with this type of computerized technology. However, this technology is groundbreaking for the trucking industry, as it will help truck drivers to maintain control of their vehicles and reduce crashes—ultimately, improving highway safety for all motorists.
This technology has the power to prevent over half of the rollover crashes involving large trucks. Additionally, ESC will help save 49 lives and prevent as many as 1,759 crashes each year, according to the U.S. Transportation Department.
Because heavy trucks aren’t required to have this technology for two years, it is quite possible that truck rollover accidents will still occur and innocent motorists will suffer serious injuries. If you have been harmed in a truck crash, you need to find out about your legal rights. To learn more, please feel free to call us or click on the Live Chat button on this webpage.