When driving a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV), the accident possibility and probability increase in direct proportion to the amount of traffic around the CMV. The heavy-duty trucks on the road today are more of a target than a small car. They are easier to hit, they move laterally more slowly, and take up a lot more room. They are an attraction to others drivers’ eyes.
Parking vehicles in the emergency lane is not a recommended procedure unless a viable emergency exists, which means that the truck is broken down and cannot move. There is no practical reason to park a truck in the emergency lane for a non-viable emergency.
Potential wrong uses of the Emergency Lane:
Tires: Unless a CMV has a complete set of duals down, which immobilizes the Truck, there is no reason for the CMV to stop.
Brakes: If there is a brake problem on the CMV where the driver feels there is something they have to see, they should move the truck to an off or on-ramp where there is room for them to look at the problem.
Lighting: If there is a lighting problem, the driver should move to a place where they can look at the problem without endangering the driver or oncoming traffic. The average lane is nine feet wide. When an eight-foot-wide CMV is parked in this lane and the driver steps out of this truck they only need to step one foot further away from the truck to be in the traffic lane.
