IT PAYS TO BE SAFE

No. 1, January, 2010

Every driver will, at some point in his career, have his truck break down. However, many drivers are not aware that there are at least three different rules for how you place your warning devices when you do break down. The rule is set forth in Section 392.22 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act. To read it is rather confusing-so let's make it simple.

• When you are on a one-way road, or a divided highway like I-70 or I-80/90, and you break down on the roadway or on the shoulder of the road, you need to place your flares or reflective triangles as follows:
  • Place your first triangle 10 feet behind your truck at the edge of the traffic lane you are occupying
  • Place your second triangle 100 feet behind the truck in the center of the lane you are occupying
  • Place your third triangle 200 feet behind the truckin the center of the lane you are occupying.
• When you are on a two-lane road, or an undivided highway like a country road, and you break down, you need to place your flares or reflective triangles as follows:
  • Place the first triangle 100 feet ahead of the truck at the edge of the traffic lane
  • Place the second triangle 10 feet behind the truck at the edge of the traffic lane
  • Place the last, or third, triangle 100 feet behind the truck in the center of the lane you are occupying.
• Breakdowns, in the area of a hill or curve or other obstruction that may prevent drivers from seeing you within 500 feet, require you to place triangles or flares as follows:
  • Place the first triangle 100, up to 500 feet behind the truck, in the center of the lane you are occupying.
  • Place a second triangle 10 feet behind your truck at the edge of the traffic lane
  • Place your third triangle 100 feet ahead of your tractor at the edge of the traffic lane you are occupying.

Three Situations: Three Rules