Author Archives: Dianne Sawaya

The traffic and mountainous terrain of Colorado highways make them daunting for passenger vehicles to navigate, and even more for semi-trucks. These vehicles are significantly larger and heavier than a passenger vehicle and carry more power behind their wheels.

But with this power also comes limitations, mainly in visibility and reaction times. These two shortcomings are often the cause of truck accidents, but savvy drivers can take steps to prevent these accidents.

What are the main types and causes of truck accidents?

Five of the most common types of truck accidents are:

• Jackknife: when the truck’s trailer folds in against the cab
• Rollover: when the entire truck flips on its side or top
• Override: when the truck drives over the rear of a smaller vehicle
• Underride: when a smaller vehicle drives underneath the truck’s trailer
• Squeeze Play: when a right-turning truck swings wide and a car in the right adjacent lane tries to overtake the truck, getting squeezed against the curb or shoulder in the process 

While driver negligence or mechanical failures cause some of these accidents, drivers who do not take extra care when driving near semi-trucks are often the cause.

Most drivers do not consider the size of a truck’s blind spots, how a truck’s size affects its ability to turn, and how long it takes to come to a complete stop. Continue reading →

Have you ever driven for a long period and suddenly realized you did not remember the last few miles? Some drivers call this phenomenon “driving on auto-pilot” especially if they are driving a familiar route. But the truth behind this lapse in concentration is a significant problem on Colorado’s roads: drowsy driving.

What is drowsy driving?

Drowsy driving is exactly what it sounds like, driving when you are fatigued. This type of dangerous behavior is not limited to falling asleep at the wheel. Drowsy driving might include behaviors such as:

• Difficulty keeping your eyes open
• Yawning
• Spacing out
• Sudden jerking when you catch yourself falling asleep
• Drifting out of your lane
• Missing exits or turns on familiar routes

Why is drowsy driving dangerous?

When you drive drowsy, you are impairing three important driving skills: Continue reading →