For the average passenger car traveling on the highway, the driver can stop the vehicle in roughly the length of a football field. It takes around 300 feet. There can be some variation, depending on things like the condition of the brakes or the driver’s reaction time.
For commercial trucks, though, the stopping distance is much longer. It typically comes in around 525 feet. Much of this is because commercial trucks are so heavy, and slowing down 80,000 pounds of mass takes time. This is the same reason that trains can’t stop instantly as soon as the engineer hits the brakes.
How this causes accidents
For other drivers, it is important to remember that semi-trucks need more distance to stop so that they don’t inadvertently cut them off. A driver approaching a red light may think that there’s a gap ahead of the semi-truck in the lane next to them. But the semi-truck may need that entire gap just to stop in time for the light. If the driver merges into the lane at the last second, they could get rear-ended.
But it’s also important for commercial drivers to understand the limitations of their own vehicles. They need to brake early, they must always be alert and focused on the road and they need to have good reaction times. A driver who is distracted or fatigued and reacts late may not have enough time to stop before crashing, causing an accident.
Have you suffered injuries in a commercial truck accident? You may deserve financial compensation for lost wages, medical bills and other related costs.
