What You Need To Know About Truck Accidents By Weather Conditions

When thinking about the causes for truck accidents, we tend to go for road or vehicle conditions as the lead contributors. But, did you know that the weather is one of the factors that has the greatest impact on road safety? Furthermore, it is not often considered how conditions inside the truck’s cabin can affect drivers by increasing errors and accidents. Excessive heat, cold or extreme rain, are known to cause numbness and poor visibility, among other effects that jeopardize their safety.

As a result of the weather, it can become more complicated to deliver loads safely and on-time. In many cases, truck drivers have to find alternate routes that may lengthen transit times, or make unplanned stops to avoid truck accidents due to weather conditions. Keeping truck drivers safe also means keeping cargo safe, especially when hazardous road conditions may delay delivery times.

So, here are some interesting facts that can help you stay safe on the road.

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According to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, the weather plays a factor in 20% of truck accidents. Rain, snow, ice, hail, sleet, fog, extreme heat or cold, and high winds are some of the most common causes; and with global warming, poor road conditions are becoming even more frequent.

Out of 18,212 accidents in Mexico in 2020, 5.6% were caused by natural agents, and, of those, 40.40% involved a single truck, combined truck, van, or pickup.

Although these phenomena are not caused by human action, it is necessary to take precautions to keep yourself as safe as possible.

For more information on how to stay safe on the road, we recommend reading 10 Truck Driver Safety Tips.

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Happy Hauling, always safely!

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