These were the two placards I saw on a dump truck driving through the metroplex today. Is this an actual legal notice, or are the operators just trying to discourage people from hassling them after rocks fall off their truck and into the highway?
Also, the placards were small - the lettering was probably four or five inches tall. I have 20/20 vision and I could not read the sign more than five carlengths behind the truck. This equates to about 80 feet. If I am 195 feet behind this dumptruck on the highway and it drops a rock which smashes my windshield, am I SOL because of the “magic” sign posted on the back of the truck? Or is this just intimidation?
Following the vehicle in front of you too closely would be a violation of the motor vehicle code, and if your car was damaged as a result, you would likely be negligent. Basically, they’re helping you out by reminding you that you need to leave extra space. They still remain liable for windshields damaged due to their negligence. The warning has no effect on that.
chula so what “extra space” is required behind a dump truck?
I’m not talking about tailgating someone - that is obviously not smart. But 200 feet? That’s over 10 carlengths. When I take a vehicle on the road I assume that I take responsibility for not having stuff fall off of it and hit other cars. If I load up a sofa in my pickup and it falls out and smashes another car, I’m clearly liable. So why can a dumptruck full of rocks put a sign up that says “Stay really far away - and if you don’t, it’s not our fault!”?
I have a feeling most motor vehicle codes say that you must maintain a “safe” distance without defining it. I have no sense of distance, but I guess 200 feet is kind of far - but wouldn’t that be about right on the highway?
200 feet is insane at any legal speed, and unnecessary at any common speed. While it may take 500 feet to stop at 100 mph, that dump truck isn’t going to stop on a dime. All you should need is a 50 foot cushion to allow for your reaction time (although 100 feet would be smarter).
Letting stuff drop from a dump truck is negligent, and negligent per se in any jurisdiction that has a law against it, and they are responsible for any damage due to their negligence. The safe following distance is to avoid collision, not falling debris. Debris kicked up by the truck, of course, is your problem.
As an aside, you will see most fire engines with that warning on the rear. Some 20 or 25 years ago, OSHA rules mandated that all personnel on the apparatus must be seated. Before that, one to two men used to ride the back step, their job, to haul off hose and connect to a hydrant. It was common for the aparatus driver to stop in the middle of the street, let the men jump off, and then continue on to the fire scene. You can see how the 200 foot rule was generated for the fire dept. members safety. Today it is more likely used because the apparatus may be searching for a report of a fire, and may make an abrupt stop. And, it looks good on the back of an FD T-shirt.
It’s an attempt to avoid responsibility. I can slap a similar sign on my car, but if anything’s falling off my vehicle (including little pieces of gravel), I’m carrying an unsecured load. In case of any damage to another vehicle, I’d be liable.