From time to time, truckers need to pull off the road, either to check for possible mechanical failure or to take a short break from the monotony of the long haul. When a truck is stopped on the shoulder, certain safety precautions must be remembered to reduce serious injury. In part, these precautions help reduce accidents known as under-vehicle crashes, which occur when the front end of a car slides under the ground clearance of a truck. The collision in an under-vehicle accident does not affect the bumper or the engine, but strikes the windshield and less protected parts of the car’s frame.

To prevent or reduce the possibility of an under-vehicle crash, truckers should take extra care if they need to pull off the road onto the shoulder. Especially on high-speed roads, the probability of a fatal under-vehicle crash is extremely high when a car crashes into a parked truck. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has noted that when the difference between speeds in these collisions exceeds 20 miles per hour, most injuries are fatal.

The first step in preventing these accidents is to turn on your vehicle’s emergency lights and place hazard markers along the road. These distinctive little triangles provide a reflective neon warning sign to any passing motorist and raise awareness. If possible, stopping under a streetlight or other light can also increase visibility and reduce the chance of an accident, especially at night.

One of the best ways to address a problem, whether it’s mechanical or fatigue, is to stop at a rest area. Although some situations don’t allow for such luxuries, parking on the shoulder or on a ramp adds the possibility of not only being hit while parked, but also being struck by a motorist while trying to get back on the road.