Big Rigs kick into gear as some local crops hit peak season

UPDATED: 5:46 P.M. 4/25/2016

If you’ve noticed more big rigs on the highways, you’re right. As local crop season picks up so do the trucks that make deliveries. Traffic officials can expect more congestion on the roads but suggest keeping your distance because you don’t want to end up like two cars Monday morning. A two car accident caused an 18-wheeler to flip onto its side in Salinas. The drivers were heading south on Highway 101, that’s when they collided.

“The passenger vehicle came off Blackie Road then it was involved with a big rig and this big rig rolled off the highway,” said North County Fire Captain, John Hasslinger.

Both drivers are ok, but other truckers in the area said that kind of accident is all too common.

“People don’t have a clue what they’re doing you know what I mean. Sometimes if you’re in a windy situation you get there and they sit on the side of you. They’re not paying attention to anything other than the fact that they lost that buffer,” said Truck driver, William Renolds.

There’s a reason why 55 mph is usually the designated speed limit for 18-wheelers. The trucks weigh about 40 tons and to get them to stop fast, isn’t easy. So to prevent accidents most big rigs come equipped with anti-collision radar sensors. The sensor is placed in the front of the big rig so if a car cuts the trucker off the brakes will automatically slow them down even if the driver isn’t stepping on the brake pedal.

“It’s going to jam on your brakes and you could hydroplane your trailer which could cause you to jack knife,” said Renolds.

That’s why the Transportation Agency for Monterey County said it’s looking into bringing the big rigs off the main highways altogether.

“One of the things that this project will do is it will build frontage roads that are parallel to Highway 101. Anybody that goes down that highway in South County we see it all the time where trucks are trying to cross the highway or they’re trying to enter the highway with oncoming cars that are moving at a much faster speed,” said Theresa Wright, with TAMC.

“Measure your distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Think about if it’s your family out there in front of them, in front of you, in front of me. I don’t want to hit anybody,” said Renolds.

CHP wants to remind folks to keep their distance from big rigs. Not only is it hard for truckers to stop, drivers deal with some pretty lengthy blind spots as well.

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If you think you’re seeing more Big Rigs on the road… you’re right. With harvesting season in full swing, the trucks that deliver those fruits and vegetables kick into gear too.

Traffic officials say drivers should expect more congestion on the Central Coast, and they’re advising everyone to slow down.

On Monday, a two-car accident caused an 18-wheeler to flip onto its side. The drivers were heading south on Highway 101 when they collided.

“This big rig rolled off the highway,” North County Fire Captain John Hasslinger said.

Both drivers are okay, but truck drivers say situations like this are all too common.

“People don’t have a clue what they’re doing,” William Reynolds, a truck driver, said.

Reynolds also said it’s not just cars they have to look out for, but other Big Rigs as well. KION’s Brandon Castillo will have more on this story Monday night.