It snowed recently in Macon, Georgia! Like, a ton. The schools were closed for a snow day. It was the first time it has snowed here in seven years! It is super rare. Which is why, of course, there was an attempt to make a snowman. When our snowman turned into a snow volcano, we of course yelled, “Snow angels!” then fell on our back and started waving our arms and legs.
When it snows here, it shuts everything down, as it should.
In the South, snow is so rare that we do not have the infrastructure to keep our roads passable. So, when it snows, even just a bit, we shut it down. In many areas, the roads were completely impassable. There were many crashes. All the roads were iced over and extremely hazardous.
Below is a photo of the interstate in my hometown (Interstate I-475) at 7:00 a.m. There were three active traffic incidents which individually closed all lanes in both directions going North and South, and there were icy patches and a crash that closed down the interstate going West too (I-16 West).
What else do you notice about this photo of the traffic on Interstate 475 in my county?
It is almost all tractor trailers, the largest, heaviest, most dangerous vehicles to be on the road during inclement weather. We all know why trucking companies push their drivers to put themselves in danger, but you may be wondering, “Isn’t there a law that protects truckers and the motoring public from being put in this situation in the first place?!”
The answer is yes! Not only is there a law, but there are also tools and practices that good trucking companies use to keep their truckers and the rest of us safe in this situation.
To become a Board-Certified Trucking Lawyer, I had to read the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations cover to cover and learn hundreds of rules and regulations. I wanted to know all the rules so I would be armed for any trucking case. Because of that, I became the first woman in Georgia to be NBTA Board Certified in Truck Accident Law, a long process and examination. I know the rules backward and forwards and can use them, not just in my cases, to help the families of those hurt and killed by dangerous trucking companies, but also to educate the trucking companies BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY DON’T KNOW THE RULES! This may shock you, but often, when I bring up the trucking safety regulations at the deposition, the trucking company owner hasn’t even heard of the rule! That is because there is no test (like the one I took) required of trucking companies.
So, you are now going to know the rule. Here’s the rule:
“Extreme caution in the operation of a commercial motor vehicle shall be exercised when hazardous conditions, such as those caused by snow, ice, sleet, fog, mist, rain, dust, or smoke, adversely affect visibility or traction. Speed shall be reduced when such conditions exist. If conditions become sufficiently dangerous, the operation of the commercial motor vehicle shall be discontinued and shall not be resumed until the commercial motor vehicle can be safely operated. Whenever compliance with the foregoing provisions of this rule increases hazard to passengers, the commercial motor vehicle may be operated to the nearest point at which the safety of passengers is assured.”
So, what does that mean exactly? Let’s now look at the Commercial Driver’s License Manual:
2.6.2 – Matching Speed to the Road Surface
“You can’t steer or brake a vehicle unless you have traction. Traction is friction between the tires and the road. There are some road conditions that reduce traction and call for lower speeds.
Slippery Surfaces. It will take longer to stop, and it will be harder to turn without skidding, when the road is slippery. Wet roads can double stopping distance. You must drive slower to be able to stop in the same distance as on a dry road. Reduce speed by about one-third (e.g., slow from 55 to about 35 mph) on a wet road. On packed snow, reduce speed by a half, or more. If the surface is icy, reduce speed to a crawl and stop driving as soon as you can safely do so.”
So, how slow are tractor-trailers supposed to go when it is raining, snowy, or icy? The Commercial motor vehicle manual says:
Wet Road: Reduce speed by about one-third
Packed Snow: Reduce speed by half or more
Icy: Reduce speed to a crawl AND STOP driving as soon as you can safely do so!
So, when the roads are icy, it is a NO-GO. The RULE is “STOP driving as soon as you can safely do so!”
You may be thinking, “But, Christy. That’s on the trucker. What could the trucking company have done to prevent this from happening?”
Trucking companies are actually required by FMCSR §392.6 to plan a safe route AND give the trucker enough time to make their delivery without putting them or the public in danger. It’s called ROUTE PLANNING.
We have all known for a very long time that we would have a historic snowfall in Middle Georgia! We planned. We got hot chocolate; we went to the grocery store, and we pulled out our snow clothes. Trucking companies must plan for this, too, because they are putting 80,000-pound vehicles on the road, any one of which could kill my whole family in an instant. As part of Route Planning, trucking companies have tools to put tractor-trailer drivers in the best position to succeed.
Do you still think that planning routes around the weather is too hard for the trucking companies to do? Well, check this out. Trucking companies now equip their vehicles with something called Telematics Systems, and as part of these systems, they can download an add-on weather overlay that will lay the expected weather right down on top of the route they plan to send their trucks through! No excuses.
So, the next time you or someone you know is in a wreck with a truck that happened during rain, snow, or ice, you will know the rules and tools that could have avoided it, and you will tell them to call a Mother Trucker!
When I am not out making snow volcanoes, I love helping make our roads safer from dangerous trucks and would love to help you or your loved one.
Love,
Christy
Christy Childers
NBTA Board Certified Truck Accident Lawyer
First Woman in Georgia
[email protected]
www.ChildersMcCain.com
To learn more, call Childers & McCain, LLC at 478-254-2007 or complete our online form for a free consultation. Located in Macon, Georgia, we serve clients in Savannah, Albany, Atlanta, Bibb County, Chatham County, Columbus, Crawford County, Oglethorpe, and Peach County.
Facing the aftermath of a serious accident can be overwhelming. Before you speak with the insurance companies, make sure you schedule a free consultation with the Macon personal injury lawyers at Childers & McCain. We can protect your rights while anticipating the insurance company’s tactics to make sure you get the full compensation you deserve. You don’t have to navigate this tough road alone – let our team of professionals help you move forward.