A rear-end accident involving a truck is dangerous due to the size difference between the vehicles. A standard passenger vehicle weighs about 4,000 pounds, but the average 18-wheeler weighs about 35,000 pounds when empty and up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded.
A truck’s massive weight affects its ability to stop quickly. In some situations, truckers may find it impossible to stop in time to avoid a rear-end collision. For this reason, truck drivers should always maintain enough space from cars ahead to slow down and stop safely. They should distance themselves farther from passenger cars when driving in poor weather conditions. For example, icy or slick roads increase how long it takes to stop a semi-truck..