A dramatic dashcam video showing a truck jackknifing across multiple lanes has highlighted the dangers of following too closely and leaving braking until the last moment.
The exact location of the incident has not yet been confirmed, although the footage appears to have been recorded on a South African road.
In the video, a truck can be seen travelling in the far-right lane before overtaking the vehicle fitted with the dashcam. Shortly afterwards, the truck’s brake lights illuminate as the driver appears to react to slower-moving traffic ahead.
However, the braking appears to come too late, or the truck may have struggled to stop in time.
The truck’s front wheels can be seen turning sharply to the left as the driver attempts to avoid rear-ending a vehicle ahead. At the same time, the dashcam vehicle significantly reduces its speed, seemingly creating an escape gap.
The truck then moves into that gap and begins to jackknife.
Remarkably, the truck skips across the middle lane while already in a jackknife position before entering the left-hand lane, where it eventually comes to a stop.
According to information circulating on social media, nobody was injured in the incident. The circumstances surrounding the crash have not been independently confirmed.
Read | Causes of truck jackknife and how to avoid it
The following-distance lesson
While the video does not provide enough information to determine exactly what caused the truck to lose control, it is a powerful reminder of why heavy vehicles need plenty of following distance.
A heavy truck carries enormous momentum. When the driver suddenly discovers that traffic ahead has slowed, there is far less room for error than there is in a passenger car.
A safe following gap gives a truck driver three things: time to see the problem, time to react and, most importantly, space to brake without having to make a desperate evasive manoeuvre.
Drivers should also remember that stopping distances increase significantly with speed, wet roads, poor visibility, worn tyres, brake problems and heavy loads.
In heavy-vehicle driving, following distance isn’t wasted road space. It’s your escape route.
The video also shows why drivers should avoid becoming trapped beside other vehicles when approaching slowing traffic. Leaving yourself somewhere to go can make the difference between a close call and a serious crash.
SA Trucker has not been able to independently verify the location or circumstances of the incident. The video is used for road-safety discussion and driver education.
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