The Ford 2021 Bronco Sport recall has left some truck owners wondering how safe their trucks are, and has people asking if a commuter truck can roll over.
The short answer to this question is, yes. Light trucks, such as pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), can roll over. Trucks, unlike passenger cars, have a high center of gravity which puts both the driver and their passengers at risk for rollover accidents and rollover accident injuries.
However, the broader question is what is the risk of a pickup rolling over? In this post, we’ll talk through the causes of truck rollovers and the ways to prevent them.
Can a pickup truck roll over?
Any vehicle can roll over if driven incorrectly, but certain vehicles like trucks and SUVs are more prone to rollover accidents. The same trucks that are prone to tipping over usually are also prone to blind spots and benefit from a backup camera. Backup cameras are great for larger vehicles for maneuvering in and out of tight spaces, around obstacles, or for towing trailers and hauling equipment. Checkout our inventory of high quality backup cameras to keep your truck, RV, or trailer safe. Camera Source offers a huge selection of high quality automotive cameras and accessories (reverse, heavy duty, front and side, bluetooth, and more!) for all the popular manufacturers:
If you can’t find a camera that’s designed for your specific vehicle, that’s not the end of the road. We have universal cameras that will work well on many vehicles.
What causes a truck to turnover?
Given the right circumstances, any vehicle can turn over. Taller, narrower vehicles like SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans are more susceptible to rollovers than traditional commuter cars because of their high center of gravity.
When a truck travels along a curved path, centrifugal force causes it to lean away from the direction of the curve. This force increases when a vehicle rounds a curve, shifting the center of gravity of the vehicle with dramatic effects on the vehicle’s balance. The lateral forces increase with speed and also with rapid changes of direction. For example, when a driver makes too sharp a turn one way and then overcorrects the other way. Those transitions can set up a pendulum effect, with larger and larger swings and an eventual loss of control.
A single-vehicle rollover is usually not caused by a steering maneuver. Instead, the vehicle usually has to "trip" on something, such as when it swerves into a curb, pothole, or a soft roadside shoulder.
Causes of Rollover Accidents
Speaking of trips, there are two types of rollover:
- Tripped rollovers happen when there are external forces at work, such as collision with another vehicle or object.
- Untripped rollovers happen because of cornering forces that destabilize the vehicle and can occur because of incorrect driving, bad terrain, or vehicular faults
The government has estimated that 95% of rollovers result from trips.
The Types of Rollover Accidents
Aside from the more obvious scenarios in which a truck is at risk for rolling over, such as off-roading and rock crawling where trucks are lifted and overcome rough terrain and obstacles, there are scenarios in which a truck is at risk to turn over when in commute.
- Ramp Rollover: A truck can roll over if one side drives up a ramp or any other high object.
- Lateral Force Rollover: When a truck travels at a fast speed around a curve, the vehicle can be forced into a roll because of its high center of gravity.
- Sideways Skid Rollover: When traction is lost in the rear wheels of the truck, it can easily spin, resulting in its tires hitting objects and causing a rollover.
- Site-Slope Rollover: When a truck drives off-road or unintentionally leaves a paved roadway, the uneven surface can cause it to roll over.
Driver Error & Reckless Driving
Regardless of obstacles, the most dangerous and common problem that drivers face is reckless driving, particularly frequently at curves in the road. These errors can include driving too fast for road and weather conditions, taking a ramp or curve too fast, driving while ill or tired, using mobile devices, or even just reaching for a drink or the radio controls.
Driving Too Fast To Safely Negotiate a Curve
In order to safely negotiate a curve, a driver needs to consider the height and load of their truck, as well as road conditions and the configuration of the curve. Going too fast for a curve can result in a rollover.
Sudden Changes in Steering or Oversteering
Oversteering is when a driver uses too-large steering movements to control a vehicle on dirt or sand. While oversteering can help, on a regular road or when a vehicle regains purchase on the road, these broad turns can lead to increases in lateral force, which roll the vehicle.
Improperly Loaded or Improperly Secured Cargo
A fully-loaded truck has a high center of gravity, so it’s very important that the load be centered and kept from shifting. Cargo that shifts as the truck is rounding a corner will upset the balance of the truck and increase its chances of tipping over. Speed also contributes significantly to truck rollover accidents when the truck’s cargo is not stable or properly loaded.
How to Prevent Truck Rollover Accidents: 7 Safe Driving Tips
Nobody wants to be in a car crash, but accidents happen every day. There are steps you can take to prevent accidents and decrease the risk of a rollover.
1. Learn to Safely Drive Your Truck
Pickups and SUVs don’t require extra training or licensing to drive like large commercial trucks, but they are larger than other commuter vehicles. Safely driving a large commuter vehicle means:
- Slowing down for curves in the road. One of the primary causes of rollover accidents is loss of vehicle control due to excessive speed.
- Recognizing your visual limitations. Larger vehicles tend to have a greater number of larger blindspots than cars.
- Avoiding sudden or sharp steering changes. Sudden changes in steering can destabilize the truck’s center of gravity and increase forces on it causing it to turn over.
- Allowing enough space between your car and others. Give yourself space and time to react on the roadway so you can stop for hazards without taking collision avoidance maneuvers that increase your risk of a rollover.
2. Watch Your Speed
Drive carefully and avoid excessive speeding. Speed makes a vehicle's tendency to roll over more severe, and it also makes more demands on a driver's attention and skill. About 45% of fatal rollover accidents involve excessive speed. The faster you’re going, the less time you have to respond appropriately to hazards in the roadway and the harder it is to maintain control of your vehicle.
- Be aware of the conditions of the road. Wet roads reduce the traction that your vehicle’s tires can provide, sometimes resulting in a sideways skid that can be a precursor to a rollover.
- Be cautious when traveling on rural roadways that feature a lot of curves, few options for overtaking other vehicles, and a higher posted speed limit. Almost three-quarters of fatal rollovers occur in rural areas on roads where the speed limit is 55 mph or more.
- Be alert for other drivers who may also be traveling the same roadway while not exercising the same measure of caution.
3. Regularly Maintain Your Truck
An important maintenance step to prevent a rollover in the event of an accident includes checking the tires.
- Make sure all the tires are in good shape and properly inflated to the pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
- Check the inflation pressure at least once a month, and replacement tires should be similar to the vehicle's original set.
- Under-inflated tires tend to run hotter than properly inflated tires, increasing the chance of a blowout that will make maneuvering your car very difficult.
- Over-inflated tires, while providing some degree of additional stability for the vehicle, are prone to severe damage by potholes and other irregularities in the road which could lead to loss of vehicle control.
4. Watch the Load
Carrying too much weight in any vehicle, particularly SUVs and pickups, decreases its stability. The worst practice is to place heavy loads on the roof.
- Try to stay well within the load ratings specified by the manufacturer. They should be noted in your owner’s manual.
- Try to place the heaviest cargo low on the floor and as far from the tailgate and as close to the center of the vehicle as possible.
5. Newer is Better
When shopping for a vehicle, look for a newer car that has the benefit of improved safety equipment, including electronic stability control and side curtain airbags. It makes sense to choose a vehicle with the most up-to-date safety systems, including a backup camera which can increase your awareness of your surroundings and prevent accidents, injuries, and damages.
6. Don’t Drink & Drive
This should go without saying. Don’t consume alcohol if you’re going to be driving. Intoxication impairs drivers’ judgement and reflexes, which substantially increases your risk of any type of motor vehicle accident. By the same token, don’t drive if you’re overly tired. Fatigue produces similar symptoms as alcohol impairment in that it impacts your response time and your ability to control your speed.
7. Wear Safety Belts
This won’t reduce the risk of rollover accidents, but it may help you survive one. Seat belts keep you in the seat so you are not tossed around in a rollover crash. About half of rollover fatalities occur when people are partly or completely ejected from the vehicle. In all kinds of crashes, nearly three-quarters of people ejected from a vehicle are killed. Seat belt use reduces your risk of death by up to 45%. Buckle up and make sure all passengers are buckled up.
Rollovers are far too common and dangerous accidents. Luckily, many new safety features are making trucks safer. A backup camera is a great safety feature that won’t prevent a truck from rolling over, but it can prevent you from rolling over a kid’s bike, or the family pet. Contact us today or start browsing our inventory.
