Final answer:
To minimize rollover risk, keep cargo low and evenly distributed, use securements, increase speed gradually, and understand that a bouncing trailer is likely empty. Vehicle safety features like crumple zones protect passengers by extending impact time, lowering force on occupants.
Step-by-step explanation:
To prevent a rollover, it is essential to keep the cargo as close to the ground as possible and to distribute it evenly over the cargo area. This helps lower the center of gravity and reduce the likelihood of tipping during turns or under high winds. Using ropes or other securement devices is also crucial for ensuring that the load does not shift while in transit, which could cause imbalance and increase the risk of a rollover. While using a wider vehicle may offer stability benefits due to a broader base, the key safety measures include proper cargo placement and securement rather than vehicle width alone. Lastly, increasing the speed gradually is essential for maintaining control of the vehicle, especially under load. Abrupt speed changes can lead to shifting cargo and loss of control, potentially resulting in dangerous situations like a rollover.
As you pass a freight truck with a trailer on a highway, a trailer that is bouncing up and down slowly is more likely to be nearly empty rather than heavily loaded. When a trailer is heavily loaded, the additional weight dampens the suspension, making it less prone to bouncing. Conversely, an empty trailer has less weight to absorb the road's imperfections, causing it to bounce more readily.
Regarding vehicle safety features, crumple zones are designed to reduce injury to passengers by increasing the time of impact during a collision. This allows the car to absorb more of the impact energy, thereby reducing the force transmitted to the occupants and potentially lowering the severity of injuries.