Even though a giant pickup truck isn’t the biggest vehicle on the road, the reality is that they are heavier than other passenger vehicles and have the potential to cause more serious injuries.
An average pickup truck weighs around 4,000 to 4,700 pounds. There are also pickup trucks that weigh well over 7,000 pounds. When you realize that the average passenger vehicle weighs between 2,600 and 4,400 pounds, you can see how there is a large enough difference to put the smaller vehicle at risk during a collision.
Large truck crashes often cause harm to smaller vehicles’ occupants
The people in a smaller vehicle are almost always at a greater risk of injury than those in larger vehicles. Larger vehicles can withstand an impact from a smaller vehicle better than a small vehicle can withstand a larger vehicle’s. A heavier vehicle will continue forward with greater force than a smaller vehicle, too, so while a small vehicle may come to a stop sooner during a crash, larger vehicles may continue to move and cause damage.
The risk to passengers in smaller vehicles is why it’s so important for pickup truck drivers to be aware of what they’re doing on the roads at all times. If they go out of their lane, hit another vehicle from behind or cross a center line and cause a head-on collision, someone in a smaller vehicle is going to be at great risk of harm.
What can passenger vehicle occupants do to stay safer?
If you’re in a passenger vehicle and you want to stay safe, the first thing to do is to be aware of the trucks around you. Look at how the driver is maneuvering and make sure you back away and give them space if they appear to be impaired, drowsy or driving erratically.
In your own vehicle, wear your seat belt and make sure your seat is back far enough from the air bag based on the manufacturer’s requirements. Don’t speed, and pay attention to the road. If you are hit, doing these things will help you minimize the risk of injury.