Crash Reported on Interstate 20 in Aiken County, South Carolina (SC)
AIKEN COUNTY, SC- Wrdw.com writes that a crash occurred this week on Interstate 20 in the early morning. The incident took place close to Bettis Academy Road, and two semis were reportedly involved; at the time of the collision, heavy fog was making it hard to see on the road. Images from the site of the crash show a damaged truck and debris on the roadway from the trailer. The authorities closed down all of the Interstate's eastbound lanes.*
Crashes involving large trucks tend to be more serious. These crashes kill thousands of people each year, most of whom are in smaller vehicles. One of the many dangers posed by large trucks the fact that it takes a long time for these vehicles to come to a stop. The distance required to brake is far longer than it is for cars, meaning that in an emergency, a car may stop, and truck may not be able to before striking the car. It is important that drivers keep adequate distances to avoid such events. This is even more important in the occurrence of inclement weather. The braking distance will be farther for trucks on slick roads, and low visibility leaves less time for drivers to react. Poorly maintained trucks will also cause issues. The most frequently identified problem when it comes to truck defects is the brakes.
In the case of truck drivers, another common danger is fatigue. Drivers spend much more time behind the wheel than do average drivers. The shifts for truckers are up to eleven hours long, which often leads to cases of severe fatigue. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety writes that drivers are far more likely to be in a collision if they drive for more than eight hours in one stretch.
Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes. To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or a family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.
Sources:
https://www.wrdw.com/2020/09/28/crash-with-tractor-trailers-shuts-down-eastbound-i-20-in-south-carolina/
https://www.iihs.org/topics/large-trucks