Two 18-wheeler wrecks, 1) on I-10 in South Louisiana; and 2) on I-20 in North Louisiana caused traffic to come to a stand-still. Both 18-wheeler wrecks occurred while rainstorm traveled through Louisiana.
Why did these truck drivers lose control of their big rigs on the interstate? Truck drivers are professional drivers requiring testing to obtain a commercial driver’s license. Safe driving techniques, along with common sense, teach truck drivers to reduce speed in inclement weather. Accident-free truck driving requires the trucker to drive his big rig according to weather conditions. Truck driving through a Louisiana rainstorm certainly calls for extra caution and attention to detail.
During this kind of weather, truck drivers should make speed adjustments and increase stopping distance due to slippery roadways. Slippery roads, wet pavement or torrential rains require the truck driver to assess safety and determine whether the truck driver should get his rig off the interstate and adjust his work schedule to accommodate the hazardous road condition. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require the truck driver to exercise extreme caution in the operation of his commercial motor vehicle in hazardous conditions such as snow, ice, sleet, fog, mist, rain, dust, smoke or adverse conditions that effect visibility or traction. 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. See 49 C.F.R. 392.14. Truck drivers can refuse to drive their commercial vehicles in dangerous weather and the employer may not legally fire or discipline him for refusing to drive because of hazardous road conditions.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2011
