What does it mean when a truck gets jackknifed?
One of the most common types of truck accidents involves a vehicle that “jackknifes.” Jackknifing is the term used to describe when the trailer of a large semi-truck or big rig pushes the front towing vehicle to one side.
What causes a jackknife accident?
Common causes of jackknifing If a trucker suddenly brakes to stop the 18-wheeler during an emergency, it can cause the trailer to swing outward, unable to stop as quickly as it should. As the wheels stop and the momentum of the trailer continues, the semi will fishtail, resulting in a truck jackknife wreck.
What happens when a tractor trailer jackknifed?
A jackknife crash is a type of trucking accident that occurs when the truck skids, loses control, and the trailer leaves its alignment and spins towards the cab, and collides with it. This usually results in a devastating crash that is often deadly for both the truck driver as well as other road users.
How do you fix a jackknife truck?
7 Steps to Correct a Jack Knife Skid
- Step 1: Straighten your truck-trailer unit.
- Step 2: Steer in the direction of the skid.
- Step 3: Take your feet off the pedals.
- Step 4: Concentrate.
- Step 5: Slow down.
- Step 6: Feather the fuel pedal.
- Step 7: Ease off the road.
How do you keep from jackknifing a trailer?
How do I avoid jackknifing?
- Check your mirrors frequently for trailer swing. If you see your trailer start to swing slightly, you can still avoid jackknifing by releasing the brakes.
- Keep your trailer full when you can.
- Leave enough room for braking.
Why is it called jackknifing?
Jack Knife is a term that applied to the dangerous situation when a large 18 wheel truck and its trailer go into a skid and the trailer swings out and stops to form an angle of 90 degrees with each other. This term comes from a description of how the blade of a jack knife forms the angle with its protective handle.
Why do tractor trailers roll over?
Because of their design, tractor trailers rollover more often than regular vehicles. They have a higher center of gravity, which can be thrown off more easily than a passenger vehicle. They also have more weight that might not be evenly distributed, which makes them easier to tip over.
What causes tractor trailer rollover?
Truck rollover accidents are often preventable and are most commonly caused by speeding, driver distraction or inattention, overly aggressive or reckless steering (overturning) and unsafe loading of the tractor trailer.
How do you stop a jackknifing trailer?
Why do semi trucks jackknife?
Slippery weather conditions and roads: Loss of traction with the road can cause weight to shift against the center of gravity causing both the truck and trailer to slide. Due to the excessive weight and overall length of commercial trucks, even small movements can cause the truck to jackknife.
How do I stop jackknife?
How do I avoid jackknifing? 1) Check your mirrors frequently for trailer swing. If you see your trailer start to swing slightly, you can still avoid jackknifing by releasing the brakes. Increasing your speed slightly may also help you gain control again.
What do I do after a jackknife truck accident?
– Use caution in bad weather conditions. – Use proper braking. – Anytime you brake hard, check to see if the trailer swings. – Know the weight of the load. If the truck is empty, it can be easy to break excessively.
What to know about jackknife trucking accidents?
Traveling too fast for the prevailing road or weather conditions;
What causes a semi truck to jackknife?
Problems with the Brakes. Semi-truck jackknife accidents can occur for a variety of reasons.
What exactly is a jackknife accident?
Frequent Causes of Jackknife Accidents. Trucks typically jackknife from traffic conditions such as having to slam on the brake,which causes the part of the truck where the trailer and