"Friday, April 26 2019, Jesse Terrell was driving westbound on I-70 towards Silverthorne. He saw smoke coming from this semi and knew its brakes were burning up. Due to the fact that between 24-36 hours before a similar occurrence had happened going east bound on I-70, Jesse picked up his phone to make the recording. Traffic was moving along at a clip of 60-65 mph on a steep grade. The truck had already passed the first of two runaway ramps. The smoke began to lessen, which told Jesse that they had just given out. 'I could see clearly that his right signal was on and the second of two runaway truck ramps was just ahead. I muttered to myself, "I really hope the driver takes this ramp." I noticed as well that once the brakes had given out, the speed of the semi increased significantly. I am incredibly thankful that this trucker had the wherewithal to utilize a runaway ramp for its intended purpose as this definitely saved lives unlike the tragic events from the day before where lives were lost. I hope this video can be utilized by trucking companies everywhere to show the value of keeping a cool head and utilizing the tools given for everyone’s safety.'"
6 Comments
oblio70Analogous to the need for weed in my mind.
lucky760I've always imagined trucks using those things, but have never seen it before. *promote
I'm still left wondering what that truck driver did to stop. If his brakes were completely non-functioning, he could potentially have just started rolling backwards back down to the freeway.
I guess the only thing he could do in such a case is turn so it rolls sideways.
:-?
siftbotPromoting this video back to the front page; last published Monday, May 6th, 2019 9:34pm PDT - promote requested by lucky760.
newtboyThanks for the promote
Those ramps are supposed to be designed with loose rocks in specific sizes. I've seen a few instances where they had to crane the trucks out, they were buried to the axles. It's not just the upward ramp, but the gravel that stops and holds the trucks.
I've always imagined trucks using those things, but have never seen it before. *promote
I'm still left wondering what that truck driver did to stop. If his brakes were completely non-functioning, he could potentially have just started rolling backwards back down to the freeway.
I guess the only thing he could do in such a case is turn so it rolls sideways.
:-?
lucky760Ah, yes. I do recall there was a big "gravel airbag" at the end of those usually. This guy's truck didn't seem to reach that though, just looked like it was rolling backward. Curious.
nockThat must be so scary for the trucker. At first, I was thinking, that's a really long (and tall) ramp, but I'm clearly not a physics professor, as he nearly went up the entire length. This must be part of the reason why truck weight limits exist; so engineers can calculate things like maximum truck ramp pitch and length.
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