They Carry Heavy Loads – With a full load, an 18-wheel truck weighs 80,000 pounds, which is 400 tons. To put that number into perspective, the average car weighs about 2,700 pounds, which is just over 1 ton. That means that 18-wheelers are 400 times heavier than most of the cars that they share the road with, and when 18-wheel trucks collide with other motor-vehicles, their massive weight often causes serious injuries, incredible property damage, and sadly, tragic deaths.
They Are the Largest Vehicles on the Road – 18-wheelers can be up to 176 feet in length and can have up to four trailers! That means the 18-wheel truck driving next to you on the highway is longer than half of a football field and over 10 times as long as the average car. This tremendous length makes it difficult for drivers to avoid crashing as they navigate sharp curves in the road, turns, merges, expressway exits, and narrow streets. Their massive size also amplifies the danger of roadside negligence, like speeding. An 18-wheeler truck traveling at 70 miles per hour has twice-as-much energy as one going 50 miles per hour.
They Need Much More Time and Space to Stop – The length of time needed for an 18-wheeler to slow down or come to a complete stop is about 40% longer than the time that a car requires. Many motor-vehicle operators that drive behind 18-wheelers do not realize how much space they should be leaving between their car and the massive truck in front of them.
They Have Huge Blind Spots – Unlike a sedan, hatchback, SUV, minivan, or pickup truck, 18-wheelers lack a rear window. 18-wheeler truckers must therefore rely on their rearview mirrors in order to see what is behind them, but given the truck and trailer’s massive size, there are huge blind spots.