Truck do have big powerful brakes, (newer ones with disk-brakes are really awesome) but it still takes a LONG time/distance to slow/stop 80,000lbs from 100km/h.
Kinetic energy is a real bitch.
There are videos of new volvos with 'automatic emergency braking' that is impressive to watch; but that isn't real-world.
In the real world during a 'panic stop' the trailer brakes lock up and the trailer starts bouncing. If you are lucky the tractor wheels don't lock up, but while you have slammed on the brakes, you are still steering and trying to avoid hitting anyone.
316ft for a car vs 524ft for a truck.[1] Almost twice the distance.
And that does NOT match my real-world experience.
I'd say on average it takes 3x-4x the distance to stop a rig.
Truck do have big powerful brakes, (newer ones with disk-brakes are really awesome) but it still takes a LONG time/distance to slow/stop 80,000lbs from 100km/h. Kinetic energy is a real bitch.
There are videos of new volvos with 'automatic emergency braking' that is impressive to watch; but that isn't real-world.
In the real world during a 'panic stop' the trailer brakes lock up and the trailer starts bouncing. If you are lucky the tractor wheels don't lock up, but while you have slammed on the brakes, you are still steering and trying to avoid hitting anyone.
316ft for a car vs 524ft for a truck.[1] Almost twice the distance.
And that does NOT match my real-world experience. I'd say on average it takes 3x-4x the distance to stop a rig.
[1]https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/stopping-distances-for-com...