During the program Direct Impactof Guatevisionexperts and analysts examined the images of the accident recorded this Thursday April 16at noon, in the jurisdiction of Amatitlanwhere a motorcyclist died after falling under a trailer. In space, the possible causes of the incident were addressed, including proximity to heavy vehicles, air flow, lack of safe distance and the need for defensive driving.
The images captured the moment when a motorcyclist died in kilometer 28 of the route to the Pacificheading south. In the video it is observed that the driver circulates between a truck and a trailer. Then, one of the vehicles brakes, the motorcyclist tries to stop, loses control and falls under the heavy transport.
One of the experts explained that, in addition to the blind spotsphysical factors typical of heavy vehicles influence. “The aerodynamics of heavy vehicles, that is, the air they are projecting, can cause suction both on the sides and at the rear“, he indicated, noting that motorcyclists are the most exposed.
Defensive driving and safe distance
During the analysis, another participant stated that the video shows a high-risk maneuver due to the proximity to the truck.
“We must drive assuming that others are going to carry out some maneuver that puts my life at risk.”, he noted.
He added that maintaining a moderate speed and one proper distance allows you to react to emergencies. As he said, in the images “the motorist is glued to the truck”, which prevented him from maneuvering when the vehicle braked.
The analyst recalled that the traffic regulations establishes the obligation to maintain sufficient distance to stop in the event of any eventuality, and summarized that the case shows the importance of “always drive defensively”.
Call for prudence
In the program it was also stated that, according to what can be seen in the video, the driver of the heavy transport did not necessarily have direct contact with the motorcyclist before the fall. One of the panelists indicated: “He falls down, the headrest doesn’t touch him“, although he clarified that the investigation will determine the responsibilities.
The same participant warned about the strength of gust of wind generated by these vehicles and the risk they represent for motorcyclists, even for drivers of light cars.
In addition, he called for prevention:
“Do not pass heavy trucks because at the end of the day… you have to be very careful”.
Another expert linked the case to the need for greater awareness when driving. “Nobody is going to beat time“, he expressed, warning that trying to move between vehicles or “zag” does not guarantee arriving faster, but it does increase the risk.
The panelists agreed that the fact must serve as a call to the prudencethe responsibility and the self-awareness when driving a motorcycle on routes with high vehicle load and presence of heavy transport.
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