AUTONEWS

Strong winds and gusts pose a danger to trucks, trailers, and vans

Portugal is well aware of the potential for heavy rain to cause damage. Recent storms have also highlighted the destructive risk of strong winds, which are more dangerous for certain vehicles.

In Portugal, it is (sadly) common to have to deal with the damage caused by excessive rainfall, as well as the floods and flash floods associated with this phenomenon, but the strong winds that hit us in the wake of the most violent storms are practically a novelty. And, when these winds reach speeds close to 200 km/h, the damage they can cause impresses anyone. If we have already seen what can happen to trees and the most fragile roofs, it is advisable to take precautions regarding the damage that these air masses, which move at speeds that not all cars can reach, can cause to vehicles, especially those with large surfaces that sometimes act like sails.

We are all familiar with how easily a flash flood can sweep away dozens of cars, but most drivers are less likely to be aware of the risk that certain types of vehicles face when the wind reaches unusual speeds. And it is not even necessary for the wind to equal or exceed 200 km/h, because even at more moderate speeds, it is easy to turn or unbalance and cause larger vehicles to overturn, sometimes throwing them against others traveling in the opposite direction.

While strong winds overturning vehicles are still (thankfully) a rarity in our country, there are other regions of the globe where this type of accident is quite common, and to prove it, we have used some images published this month on the social network X, in which a semi-trailer truck traveling on a national road is seen being overturned when it was traveling near Dumas, Texas. In a region where the US National Weather Service predicted winds between 56 and 72 km/h, with gusts of up to 113 km/h — well below the 200 km/h maximum felt in Portugal, more specifically in the central region — the consequences of the wind force hitting the side of the semi-trailer are visible, causing it to tilt to one side and resulting in the accident, without the tractor driver being able to prevent it. It is worth remembering that a 40-foot semi-trailer pulls a trailer that is 12.2 meters long and 2.6 meters high, which gives it a lateral surface area of ​​31.6 m2, a value equivalent to the mainsail of a generously sized sailboat reefed for strong winds.

According to local press, the authorities' criticism was mainly directed at drivers who, at the wheel of empty vehicles—meaning vehicles with little weight but a lot of area exposed to the wind—insisted on traveling through areas where excessively strong winds were expected. This implies extra caution for those driving trucks and semi-trailer tractors, whether empty or carrying very bulky but light loads. But while trucks are in the hands of professional drivers and companies specializing in logistics, there are other vehicles in the hands of private individuals and drivers, such as vans, caravans, and motorhomes, where the surface area exposed to the wind is proportionally larger than the weight they carry most of the time.

Still in Texas, a second accident occurred in recent days when a vehicle, not a truck but a pickup truck towing a smaller trailer, also veered off course due to the force of the wind, with the result being equally evident in a post published on X. Along with these two examples recorded on video, the local sheriff's office reported several other accidents in the region, resulting from the wind that particularly battered vehicles whose volume exceeded the weight of the vehicle combination.

Strong winds and sudden gusts create severe, often underestimated, hazards for commercial vehicles, specifically trucks, trailers, and vans. Due to their large surface area, known as "sail area," these high-profile vehicles are prone to swaying, drifting between lanes, or rolling over. Empty or light trailers are particularly susceptible to wind-induced accidents because they lack the weight to stabilize against lateral, or side, forces.

Key risks to vehicles(below):

Rollovers: Strong crosswinds can catch the side of a trailer and flip the vehicle entirely. Gusts of 60+ mph are considered severe, but lower speeds can still cause issues.

Jackknifing: Winds can push the trailer faster than the cab, causing it to swing out and create a 90-degree angle with the tractor.

Lane drift: Sustained winds and gusts can force vehicles out of their lanes, pushing them into adjacent lanes or off the road.

Danger to others: A swaying, tipping, or runaway trailer poses a major threat to surrounding vehicles, often resulting in multi-vehicle pileups. 

Vulnerable conditions & areas(below):

Empty trailers: Without heavy cargo to anchor them, trailers are highly unstable in high winds.

Open aeas & bridges: Open plains, mountain passes, bridges, and overpasses are high-risk areas for sudden, intense gusts.

Passing large vehicles: Passing or being passed by another large vehicle creates wind tunnels that can cause sudden, intense pressure changes, pushing or pulling the trailer.

Wind Speed thresholds: While dangerous, 30–40 mph winds require caution, 40–60 mph increases the risk of, and 60+ mph poses severe danger.

Safety tips for drivers(below):

Slow down immediately: Lower speeds reduce the force of the wind on the vehicle and improve control.

Keep two hands on the wheel: Maintain a firm, two-handed grip to handle sudden steering shifts.

Stop and park: If conditions become unmanageable, find a safe, sheltered location to pull over and wait for the wind to subside, ideally parking facing into the wind.

Check weather and route: Review wind forecasts and avoid exposed bridges or open roads when high-wind warnings are in effect.

Ensure proper cargo loading: Verify that all doors are secured and cargo is evenly distributed.

by Autonews