The Importance Of Runaway Lanes - 100mph Lorry Lost Its Brakes
A lucky escape for a lorry with no brakes!
Trucks, or lorries as we call them in England, are heavy cumbersome things. And therefore, need a rather substantial braking system to bring all 44 tonnes to a stop. So what happens when said braking system goes wrong?
Well, there's not a lot you can do really. That's why in some places there's been a runaway lane built onto the side of some roads. I'm sure you know what these are, but if not, then it's very basically a ramp that's designed to slow fast moving vehicles down that have lost their brakes.
Not very interesting you may think - well this is what it looks like when a lorry, moving at around 100mph and with no brakes, decides to take its chances on the runaway lane. This driver was very lucky to say the least!
This video, shot on a Mexican highway, was taken from the perspective of a police escort who had arrived to show the lorry driver to a runaway lane. As it hit the lane, dust was forced into the air and the lorry came to a stop with, luckily, an unhurt driver.
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Comments (19)
As a former truck driver, I can assure you: He was crapping his pants.
no kidding ran flat bed myself with more than one load i didnt like but one of the above commenters thinks its so easy to stop a truck lmao
Look at him hit those apexes.
Most of the mountain highways here in México have this runnaway lanes, It has helped to save many lives. Unfortunately, we learned the hardway that they need to be maintained, one 23 years old truck driver used one about 30 years ago, and since the runnaway line was not maintained, since the gravel was not loosed but compacted, instead of stopping the truck, it worked as a ramp. The truck flew through the air killing the driver. Sad moment.
Guy must have had Gonards the size of church bells and very brown jeans after that.
This driver must have had his foot down. They were travelling up hill with lots of weight onboard? I don't think so. That lorry would have rolled to a stop on the hill.
hahaha go drive a truck loaded to 105,500lbs and let me know how long it takes to"roll to a stop" that much paper on a load and unsecured in a van no chance that rig was stopping