Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Truck Smashes Into Multiple Vehicles On Mumbai-Pune Expressway - Brake Failure To Blame?
A truck crashed into 10 vehicles on the Mumbai-Pune expressway in Maharashtra, yesterday. The accident occurred near the Khopoli exit of the expressway connecting Mumbai to Pune.
Thankfully the crash did not result in human fatalities and neither were there any major injuries sustained, which was a big relief considering the video from the aftermath of the crash showed quite a few cars left mangled on the expressway.
Those injured were thankfully quickly taken to the hospital for further checkups. The Police then got to work clearing up the mangled mess left by the crash, which in turn, finally allowed traffic to start flowing again on the expressway.
The police are currently investigating the accident and have not released any details or statements regarding what caused the crash to happen in the first place.
However, some reports suggest that the truck driver lost control of his vehicle after the brakes failed in the vehicle which resulted in the smash-up.
While the brake failure theory has not been officially confirmed, it has been the cause of quite a few crashes over the years especially on expressways like the one connecting Mumbai and Pune cuts across the ghats.
So let's explore what could cause the brakes to fail on a truck that in turn causes such terrifying pileups like the one we saw yesterday on the Mumbai Pune Expressway.
For this, we have to take a look at the braking system employed by these large trucks that hurtle across our highways. Most trucks and other heavy commercial vehicles that carry large loads make use of compressed air to provide the braking force needed to get these heavyweights to stop quickly.
The compressed air is stored in multiple storage tanks that are found on these types of trucks. When the driver steps on the brakes this compressed air is deployed to bring the truck to a halt quickly and safely.
This is where the Mumbai-Pune Expressway's route comes into play. The 94.5-kilometre-long expressway cuts across the Western Ghats to provide a quick route between Mumbai and Pune.
Due to this hilly terrain, some sections feature inclines and descents. To save fuel, some motorists switch off their engines and coast down the downhill sections.
This is particularly dangerous in trucks as the engine is used to power the compressor that keeps the aforementioned tanks full of compressed air.
With the engine off, there is not enough compression provided for the brakes to work at the optimum level, causing a loss of braking force.
Add in the fact that quite a few of these trucks may be overloaded and the lack of brakes and extra weight make a mixture that doesn't end well for those on the road.
Thoughts About The Crash On The Mumbai-Pune Expressway
The latest crash on the Mumbai-Pune expressway shows just how dangerous driving can be for motorists on our roads.
If the cause of the accident does come up to brake failure, we do hope that it forces motorists to not switch off their engines while coasting downhill, if only to ensure that the next inevitable crash isn't a fatal one.
Continue with Google