• Minor injury to the driver
• Total loss of the rig and tank trailer
• Environmental clean up required from spilled caustic liquid and diesel fuel
• Customer delivery was delayed
• Total loss Incurred > $100,000

• Drivers should pull over in a safe spot during periods of poor visibility.
• Submit work orders for vehicle maintenance when mechanical systems including cab ventilation system are not adequate.
• Reduce speed during periods of precipitation.

• One out of ten rollover accidents result in a driver fatality
• In 2000 there were 12,196 rollover accidents or 33 rollovers/day

1. Vehicle Center of Gravity - The height of a vehicle's center of gravity and the width of the wheel base determine the vehicle's stability. Picture a vertical line that shifts to the right or left as the vehicle rounds curves or travels on a banked roadway. A rollover occurs when this imaginary line passes outside the vehicle's wheel base.
2. Radius of Curves and Slope of Roadways - Both are important because they generate a centrifugal force that acts sideways from the center of gravity. The centrifugal force
   increases the angle of the aforementioned vertical line from the center of gravity, thereby decreasing vehicle stability.
3. Load Security - Bulk tank trucks are inherently less secure because fluids can surge when trucks brake or round curves, thereby altering the center of gravity.
4. Vehicle Speed - This is probably the most important factor contributing to the vehicle instability because it magnifies problems presented by the other three factors. As the vehicle's speed increases, the centrifugal force increases in an amount equal to the square of the vehicle's speed. Faster speeds also result in decreased driver response times. Speed is the factor over which the driver can exercise the most control.

1. Adjust the vehicle speed to allow a “Speed Cushion” for maneuvering (at least 10 MPH below the posted speed limit is recommended) when approaching a curve.
2. Slow down and downshift early. Don’t shift in the curve.
3. Look at both the speed limit sign and your speedometer to ensure that your vehicle is below the posted speed.
4. Don't rely on a “seat of the pants” sense to judge speed and vehicle maneuverability. New suspensions and chassis set-ups give a false sense of control.
5. Slowly accelerate out of the curve.
6. Maintain a “Space Cushion” (distance between your vehicle and other traffic) so you will have a safe maneuvering distance despite misjudgment, weather and road conditions, and poor driving by other motorists.
7. Select travel routes that are best suited to the type of vehicle and loads being driven in order to avoid road conditions, such as sharp curves and steep grades that make rollovers more likely to occur.
8. There are evasive maneuvers a driver can take in the event that a rollover appears imminent. The first step is to attempt to straighten out the vehicle and bring it to a gradual stop, even if it means driving off the pavement.
9. If the vehicle feels like it is about to rollover, you are probably too late. Your odds to survive are helped if you are belted in, and try to stay low and hold on. It has been found that drivers that attempt to jump out during rollovers are much more likely to sustain serious injuries than if they stay inside their vehicles.

"XL Insurance" is a registered trademark of XL Capital Ltd. XL Insurance is the global brand used by member insurers of the XL Capital Ltd group of companies.

For general information purposes only. Contents should not be construed or used as legal advice or opinion.

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