Douglas Wentzel Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C.

s Law School Scholarship Essay Contest Essay Topic 2: Car Accidents In the state of New Jersey, semi-trucks, or tractor trailers as they are commonly referred to, pose a substantial danger to other drivers. The dangers posed by these trucks, in order of decreasing severity, are obscuring drivers vision in both drive lanes on two lane highways during rain, exploding/disintegrating tires, and projection of rocks and debris into cars windshields. Each of these side-effects of semi-truck usage on major roads within the state of New Jersey (and further, the country) creates risks for ordinary drivers that I believe could be significantly reduced by taking proper precautions. These risks and my recommendations for alleviating these risks are presented within this essay, supported by my research on this subject as well as my personal experience as a transportation engineering intern in 2011. Despite the presence of mud flaps on semi-trucks, approximately 60% of water spray that is ejected from a semi-truck is perpendicular to its direction of travel, not straight backward. As such, 40% of the water spray created by semi-trucks wheels continues directly behind the vehicle, ensuring that neither passenger car (the majority vehicle type on major roads nationwide) drivers on the side nor behind the semi-truck have sufficient visibility to safely operate their vehicles. As semi-trucks reach highway speeds, mud flaps, which are typically composed of rather flexible but dense rubber, are blown upward by the force of the air against them. Additionally the suction forces created against the back face of the semi-trucks trailers causes some water spray that is ejected perpendicular to the direction of travel to be sucked back towards the trailer and the cars behind it. As such, the current design of semi-trucks allows for the same water spray to affect drivers both next to and behind semi-truck drivers. To remedy this situation, I have surmised an economically feasible and simple addition to the design of these trucks that could easily be implemented as a retrofit repair. By creating a skirt that bolted to the sides of the cab of the semi-truck and its trailer that could be lifted or lowered (depending on dry or wet conditions, respectively), water spray could be vastly minimized. Although this skirt could not be attached to the rear of the trailer of truck as it would create far too much aerodynamic drag on the truck and therefore greatly reduces its gas economy, the skirts along the length of the trailer and cab would keep water spray from getting underneath the trailer and being propelled by the rear wheels at vehicles behind the trailer (as is currently the case). Such a system could, based off current aluminum sheet metal prices and labor rates, be implemented on a typical 53 long tractor trailer for $2,000-$3,000. Exploding tires and tire treads on semi-trucks poses another major danger for drivers on major roads in New Jersey. On the New Jersey State Parkway in particular, tire treads can be seen frequently on the travel lanes, and it is not uncommon to see treads fly off tractor trailers on this particular road. As chunks of tire tread can easily weigh 30 pounds, at highway level speeds, these treads can possess levels of momentum (and thus, energy) easily capable of inflicting serious damage to vehicles and injury to their drivers as well as people that may be walking nearby if on a major roadway bordered by sidewalks and parking lots. In order to minimize the risk presented by failed tire treads on semi-trucks, truck drivers need to be required to have their tires replaced or retreaded at mandated usage levels safely

below the maximum usable life of the tire or tread used. Currently, research shows that truck drivers will embark on long trips even knowing that their tires should be replaced/retreaded at a mileage that is before the mileage they will complete upon arrival at their next destination. This mentality of replacing/retreading tires as a second-degree consideration to truck drivers is unacceptable due to the fact that exploding truck tires and treads are directly and explicitly linked to danger and injury to ordinary drivers each and every day. Just as weighing stations are a mandated checkpoint for trucks, tire replacement/retreading checkpoints could be incorporated at these weighing stations to ensure that all semi-trucks were following safe tire practices at all times. Finally, the issue of projecting debris backwards to cars behind the semi-truck is a dangerous issue that is important to address. Due to the sheer number of axles on these trucks, the weight induced on these trucks wheels, and the net width of all the wheels contacting the road by these trucks at once, these trucks are highly likely to lift upward and propel forcefully backward all manner of stones and other road debris. The danger of stone and debris projection by semi-trucks is that drivers become unnecessarily cautious (and over-cautious) when driving near semi-trucks, due to their fear of having their windshields cracked or their car hoods chipped. Additionally, these rocks have the potential to injure pedestrians or property adjacent to major roads. The solution to limiting the extent to which water spray is ejected onto surrounding vehicles would also be appropriate for remedying this problem. By having skirts on the sides of the semi-trucks and trailers that protruded slightly outward from the body of the vehicle, much of the rocks and debris that are commonly deflected upward could be contained under the truck body instead. These side skirts, in addition to existing mud flaps at the rear of the tractor trailer would create an easily implemented method of rock and debris containment for semi-trucks on major roads within the state of New Jersey and major roads across the country. Overall, despite the inherent dangers of semi-trucks sharing roads with ordinary drivers, the main dangers have relatively easy and affordable methods of solution. An extreme method of solution to all of these problems would be discontinuing the usage of semi-trucks for freight transportation and utilizing the nations comprehensive system of railroads for this purpose. Freight transportation is more environmentally friendly and economically efficient in terms of harmful byproducts produced and gas economy, respectively. However, since this is currently not a feasible alternative, by addressing the concerns that the public rightfully has about the dangers of sharing roads with semi-trucks (the concerns outlined in this essay), the danger of driving behind and alongside semi-trucks could, over time, be largely eliminated. For more information on the dangers of semi-trucks sharing roads with ordinary drivers, please visit www.SalviLaw.com. Gamauf, Mike. "Accidents in Brief." Business & Commercial Aviation 96.6 (2005): 88. Print. Lin, Lee-Jean, and H. Harvey Cohen. "Accidents in the Trucking Industry." International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 20.4 (1997): 287-300. Print. York, Jim. "Danger Zone." Fleet Owner 101.8 (2006): 44. Print.