What are jackknife crashes and how can we adjust our driving to prevent these crashes? We approached a few industry experts on driver training and crash investigation to gain some important insights!
What is a jackknife crash and how does it happen?
Jackknife crashes are, unfortunately, among the most common truck accidents due to the fact that the trailer is not fixed to the prime mover. Instead, the trailer platform is connected to the cab of the truck with a simple hitch to allow for free movement.
Although helpful turning, this free movement also causes problems when drivers are forced to apply their emergency brakes, the prime mover comes to an abrupt stop, but the momentum of the trailer pushes it forward until it swings around and jackknifes.
There are two types:
Trailer - When the trailer overtakes the prime mover 0r
When the actions of the prime mover (such as braking) cause the trailer to swing by.
A Jackknife collision occurs when there is a loss of traction...
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