Driving alongside tanker trucks can be deceptively dangerous. Although these trucks are critical for transporting liquid goods, their unique design and physics make them especially prone to accidents. To help keep everyone safer on the roads, it’s vital to understand why these vehicles demand extra caution and how they’re designed to reduce, but not eliminate, certain risks.
Why Tanker Trucks Have Partitioned Interiors
Inside a tanker truck, the setup is far from a single, open tank. Instead, the interior is divided into compartments with built-in bulkheads. These partitions aren’t just for convenience, they’re essential for managing a phenomenon known as the “wave effect.” When a tanker truck is on the move, the liquid inside shifts, forming waves that exert pressure against the tank’s walls. This intense force creates instability, especially when the driver brakes suddenly or makes sharp turns.
These bulkheads, or internal walls, slow down liquid movement within the tank, specifically the forward-and-backward wave effect. Many bulkheads have small holes to allow controlled liquid flow, which reduces sudden pressure changes and makes loading and unloading more efficient. However, while these bulkheads minimise certain liquid shifts, they don’t fully stabilise the tank’s contents.
Why Stability Remains a Challenge for Tankers
Even with partitions, tanker trucks are vulnerable to rollover accidents. While the bulkheads reduce some liquid movement, they don’t prevent side-to-side shifts. This design limitation means that liquid movement can still make the truck unsteady, particularly given the high centre of gravity from the weight of the liquid. Tests reveal that while regular cars can resist rollover forces of around 1.2 to 1.3 g, tanker trucks tip over at just 0.4 g, making them roughly three times more prone to rollovers than ordinary vehicles.
How to Drive Safely Around Tanker Trucks
Understanding these risks is critical for drivers. Maintaining a safe distance from tanker trucks can be life-saving. Given their rollover risk, especially during sharp turns or abrupt stops, avoiding close proximity to tankers is essential. Allow extra space and avoid driving directly alongside or closely behind these vehicles, particularly on high-speed roads or curving routes. This vigilance can prevent accidents that arise from tanker trucks’ unique instability.
Staying Alert for Safer Roads
Drivers can make smarter, safer choices on the road by recognising the design and challenges of tanker trucks. Maintaining distance and being mindful of these trucks’ limitations helps ensure a safer driving environment for everyone. Knowledge and caution are the most effective ways to reduce risk and promote road safety, creating a safer driving experience around these critical but complex vehicles.
