Truck Crash Reference

Wide-turn truck crashes

Last updated . Sources checked

Contents
  1. Why wheel paths differ
  2. The right-side gap
  3. Reading the maneuver
  4. Related entries
  5. References
Wide-turn truck crashes
MechanismOff-tracking during a turn[1]
Safety warningDo not squeeze beside a turning truck[2]

A wide-turn truck crash may occur when a large vehicle needs turning space that another road user does not anticipate. In a combination vehicle, the rear wheels can follow a path inside the front wheels, a movement called off-tracking. The driver must account for that geometry while also observing surrounding traffic.[1][3]

See: Blind-spot and no-zone crashes

Why wheel paths differ

The combination-vehicle manual explains that long vehicles off-track during turns and that longer combinations need more turning room. A trailer can therefore pass close to a curb or object even when the tractor cleared it. That geometry is useful for explaining a contact point, but it does not establish that the driver chose a safe approach or left adequate space for other road users.[1]

The right-side gap

FMCSA cautions motorists not to squeeze between a turning truck and the curb. It notes that trucks may swing wide to complete a turn and advises drivers to allow the necessary room. Commercial-driver guidance separately stresses observation at intersections. Both sets of guidance matter: a warning to motorists does not remove the need to examine the truck driver's observation and turning path.[2][3]

Reading the maneuver

The Oregon manual recommends managing the rear of the vehicle during a right turn so that other drivers are less likely to pass on the right. Analysis should distinguish that approach from a broad swing that leaves an apparent opening beside the truck. Road layout and the movement of both vehicles are necessary context. A wide turn is a vehicle maneuver, not an automatic allocation of civil fault.[1]

References

  1. abcd Oregon Commercial Driver Manual: Combination Vehicles. Oregon Department of Transportation. https://www.oregon.gov/odot/DMV/Pages/Online_CDL_Manual_2/Section_6.aspx. official. Checked . Source record
  2. ab Tips for Passenger Vehicle Drivers. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ourroads/tips-driving-safely-around-large-trucks-or-buses. official. Checked . Source record
  3. ab CMV Driving Tips: Inadequate Surveillance. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/driver-safety/cmv-driving-tips-inadequate-surveillance. official. Checked . Source record