Driving a truck requires following closely the principles and practices of defensive driving. For those of us who drive one or are desirous of driving one, it should be interesting going over Mount Rosser or going down Red Hills on a daily basis. But, it is essential that you try to prevent accidents and rollovers when driving a truck.

A truck is a self-propelled land vehicle designed to carry cargo. Most of these trucks travel on roads which are covered with potholes. There are other trucks known as off-the-road vehicles which are designed to carry loads over rough terrain. Trucks are similar to other automotive vehicles in having the same three major groups of parts. They are the power train, the power plant and the running gear.

Practise defensive driving

Consequently, truck drivers are encouraged to ensure that whether sunny or poor weather conditions they practise defensive driving.

"Defensive driving is driving to save lives, time and money," said Lurkent Hanson, an expe-rienced senior instructor. He points out that rollovers are the most fatal of all trucking accidents. Readers will vividly remember the truck accident in Portland late last year where 14 people lost their lives. He points out that when trucks have rollovers, one loses time, hard-earned cash and the load being transported. In worst-case scenarios, he adds, there can be loss of lives.

According to Hanson, rollovers are considered the most fatal of all trucking accidents. It was only recently that a trailer turned over on its side almost at the foot of Red Hills. This created a huge pile-up of traffic from all angles. No vehicle could go up or down that section of the hill.

Causes

Rollovers can be caused by many factors. These include:

✘ By the driver being distracted- not paying close attention to the road. "Truck drivers with a lot of loads should read the road ahead," said Hanson.

✘ Swerving to avoid hitting an object, person or a pothole.

✘ Driving too fast on wet or slippery roads, even in very windy conditions.

✘ Driving too fast around curves and when making tight or sharp turns.

✘ Driving when one is tired and so one becomes fatigued and wants to fall sleep. A tired driver who falls asleep on the road is usually jolted awake by the sensation of the vehicle, on leaving the road. According to Hanson, a sudden sharp return to the road can flip the truck on its side.

✘ Braking while making a lane change.

✘ Making sudden manoeuvres. Again, swerving can tip the vehicle over. A truck driver should not stop or accelerate suddenly, whether in the right or wrong situation.

✘ A combination of excessive speed and load shift can cause a rollover.