Let’s read the news.
You’ve probably passed by dozens of runaway truck ramps without ever paying much attention to them. To a driver in a normal family vehicle, they’re largely irrelevant.
But to a big-rig driver, they can be a life saver.
The surveillance camera video is slow and choppy, but it shows one thing very clearly: That truck came to a stop very quickly.
The principle behind this type of runaway truck ramp couldn’t be simpler: It’s essentially a short paved apron leading into a long chute of loose gravel. The resistance of the gravel brings the truck to a halt almost immediately, while allowing a little bit of directional control.
Take another look. From the moment the truck hit the gravel to the time it came to rest, it only traveled about four truck lengths. Even if the truck’s brakes were working perfectly, it probably couldn’t have stopped so quickly.
Here’s hoping this is the only time you have to witness a runaway truck ramp at work.
Recent Comments