Idaho mountains roads are beautiful and rolling, winding through some of the most scenic landscapes in the world. These roads are subject to a large amount of commercial traffic, with the state ranking third in the United States for tractor trailers transporters. These trailers are subject to several risks when operating on narrow and winding roads. The dangers these tractor-trailers pose rapidly increase due to increased public awareness of safety concerns. Here are the seven most common hazards involving tractor-trailers in the Idaho Mountains.
Blind Spots
Due to the dramatic topography of many Idaho mountain roads, drivers often need more or no view, letting them take unnecessary risks. This lack of visibility can lead to dangerous driving practices, including drifting into oncoming traffic and ignoring hazards such as curves or sharp turns. These practices can result in tractor-trailer accidents involving severe injuries or deaths.
Steepness
Idaho mountain roads are often carved into steep hillsides with narrow lanes and sharp turns. These roads are hazardous for tractor-trailers due to their long length and the fact that drivers are only sometimes familiar with the road. This can lead to poor driving practices. This can result in overcompensation for the drivers when trying to maintain control of their rig. These overcorrections tend to lead to accidents involving tractor-trailers.
Weather Conditions
Tractor trailers are subject to the same prevalent conditions in the Idaho Mountains. These can include heavy rain, snow, and fog. Idaho traffic reports show that the winter months have the most traffic accidents, likely due to snow and ice. Heavy rain and snow can lead to dangerous driving conditions that increase the likelihood of accidents involving tractor-trailers. This is especially true if the driver needs to become more familiar with the road or needs to be operating consistently due to poor visibility or limited experience. Foggy conditions pose a similar risk on these roads, as drivers may be unable to see other motorists, which could lead to accidents.
Road Construction
To ensure the safety of everyone using these roads, Idaho transportation officials often close roads for maintenance or repair projects. This can lead to detours that may increase the distance a driver must travel to reach their destination. Such detours often need to be better marked and well-documented by commercial GPS systems. This can result in drivers following the directions of their GPS instead of common sense, leading to accidents involving tractor-trailers.
Trailer Weight and Speed
Tractor trailers are generally large and fast, with lengths of over 50 feet. They are also generally pulled by large diesel engines capable of speeds above 70 miles per hour. These factors and the fact that these trucks often follow narrow mountain roads can lead to severe accidents involving tractor-trailers.
Driving Habits
Although driving habits can vary from driver to driver, many tractor-trailers tend to exhibit poor driving habits. These poor driving habits include excessive speeding and tailgating. These poor driving practices lead to a high incidence of accidents involving tractor-trailers. These factors can quickly lead to severe accidents when these drivers attempt to maneuver on narrow mountain roads.
Unworthy Tractor Trailer
This is the most common cause of an accident involving tractor-trailers. Many tractor-trailer drivers attempt to save money with cheaper truck equipment and parts. This leads to unacceptable working conditions. These subprime trucks are often poorly maintained and unsafe for use on public roads. The owners of these unworthy trucks can be liable if a tractor-trailer accident occurs due to their negligent actions or lack of oversight.
These factors play a part in tractor-trailer accidents in the Idaho Mountains. Tractor trailers must be aware of the dangers on these roads.
