The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require that all commercial truck drivers use "extreme caution" in hazardous weather conditions. Missouri's Commercial Drivers Manual provides that truckers should slow down by as much as one-third of their normal and customary speed during hazardous conditions. Federal Law and trucking industry practice includes rain, fog, snow, ice and wind as hazardous conditions.
Rain is the most common weather problem that commercial motor vehicle drivers encounter. Heavy rain can limit the visibility just as much as fog or snow storm. Tractor trailers may hydroplane and lose contact with the pavement. Traction is also reduced when rain mixes with dirt, oil and grease on the roadway. By reducing speed tractor trailer drivers can increase the traction control of their vehicle.
Traction is important because automobile average several thousand pounds in weight whereas tractor trailers can average 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. If there is a crash because the tractor trailer loses traction it is the people in the vehicle that are most likely to be seriously injured or killed.
Unfortunately, truckers in Missouri and elsewhere do not always exercise the extreme caution that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require. Drivers who continue to travel at the posted speed limit during hazardous conditions are acting recklessly and are violating their mandatory safety duties and obligations. If a collision results from the drivers failure to follow the safety regulations during extreme weather conditions, liability can be imposed on the driver and his employer to compensate injured persons and their families because of such reckless and careless conduct.
If you are a loved one are injured by a tractor trailer during bad weather conditions or because of the tractor trailer company's negligence and carelessness, we urge you to contact a Missouri trucking lawyer to discuss your rights. The law firm of Tatlow, Gump, Faiella & Wheelan, LLC has a long tradition of representing victims of negligence against trucking companies. For a free consultation concerning such matters please call 1-800-264-3455 or use the form on our contact us page.
