What to know about driving with large trucks in Iowa work zones

Sixty percent of fatal work zone crashes in Iowa involve at least one large truck, according to a recent report using the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Large truck wrecks are often more catastrophic and deadly because of the vehicles’ size and weight.

This is part of the Institute for Safer Trucking’s state-by-state fact sheets, which present data collected over a ten-year period from 2012 to 2021. Iowa, like 42 other states, saw an increase in truck wreck fatalities.

Overall, there was only a 12% increase — from 60 deaths in 2012 to 67 in 2021 — in Iowa, which is one of the smallest changes observed. Most notable in the state’s data is the high rate of large trucks implicated in deadly work zone crashes.

Why Are Work Zones Dangerous?

In construction zones, normal road conditions are altered. Sometimes this means major road or lane closures. Often, traffic is longer and more tedious than usual. Paying attention in these areas is vital to protecting yourself and others.

Picture yourself driving to or from work. It’s rush hour, and everyone wants to get to their destination. You have driven this route countless times and barely need to think about which exits to take or how fast to drive. But what happens when a construction project begins?

You might encounter slower speed limits, workers flanking the roads, an extra 30 minutes added to your commute. Under these conditions, aggressive driving becomes more dangerous. If you’re following too closely behind the car ahead of you and it slams on its brakes, you could rear-end it. If you swerve across lanes to try and bypass traffic, you could enter a semi-truck’s blind spot and be hit.

When drivers are reckless, impatient, or distracted in construction zones, people are killed.

Do Trucks Make Construction Zones More Deadly?

Work zone hazards, when combined with the force and size of large trucks, are serious. Remember that commercial motor vehicles, semi-trucks, for example, are several times heavier than everyday cars. They can’t stop as fast, maneuver as deftly, or perform the same way as four-wheeled cars.

Large trucks have vast blind spots, which means their drivers might be oblivious to smaller cars driving beside or behind them. On crowded roads, it’s important to leave ample space between each vehicle to minimize the likelihood of collision.

Your awareness can protect you from distracted or impaired drivers. Sleep deprivation and fatigued driving are issues that affect many large truck drivers. As I discussed in a previous article, these conditions aren’t often identified until it’s too late. By paying extra attention and driving cautiously in work zones, you can do your part to keep yourself and others safe.

What to Do If I’m a Victim of a Work-Zone Collision

Statistics are on the rise, with more people dying in truck wrecks each year. If you are in an accident caused by a large truck’s negligence, you should reach out to a personal injury attorney. Attorneys who have received board certification in truck accident law are your most reliable resource.

At Craig, Kelley & Faultless, we have attorneys with decades of experience handling cases involving semi-trucks, tractor trailers, box trucks and other commercial motor vehicles. We represent our clients and ensure fair compensation from reckless trucking and insurance companies.

Contact us at 1-800-746-0226 or through our website for more information.

David W. Craig sits on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (which requires the board certification in truck accident law). He is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers, as well as a Top 50 Indiana lawyer by Super Lawyers. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families, written to help people navigate a terrible situation by answering questions that come after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large truck drivers that do not follow Indiana law safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.