Runaway truck ramp

Most likely would but I think the cost is the factor. You wouldn't believe some of the ones out there. I have seen ones after a curve! There are a lot of steep grades with none at all. Then you have grades like Monteagle which is nothing compared to out west and there are all kinds of precautions and stuff. Hell, it hardly snow on Monteagle! I guess it all depends on who's died where!

 

What ramp are you refering too? Yes if you lost your brakes at the top of the grade you most likely won't make it down to the runaway ramp. Do you know where White bird hill is in Idaho? Before that grade was moved to its present day location many trucks went into the runaway ramps and some went thru the ramps and never stopped. Pray you never need those ramps because the out come may be ugly.

 

Run-a-way ramps out west are nothing more than rat traps for baiting idiot/ignorant truckers into dying there rather than taking anyone else out with them along the way.

I've often thought I would rather take my chances down the side of the mountain rather than some of the "ramps" I've seen if the time ever comes I wind up an idiot/ignorant trucker..

 

It's most likely a balance of cost vs. odds of a truck experiencing catastrophic brake failure more or less immediately upon starting the downgrade. For example take the following scenarios:

1. Driver has an undiscovered air leak. In a static state, the loss is compensated for by the compressor... But when he applies the brakes, the loss is significant. Some drivers will pull onto the shoulder and get help before the loss is critical. Others, will engine and jake the truck down the hill. (Taking a BIG gamble there).. If the driver 'fornicates the canine' he'll likely hit an unrecoverable/uncontrollable state after he's taken most of the downgrade.

2. Driver is overbraking and experiences heat induced "brake fade". No matter the cause, the emergency state is gradual. If the driver is alert, he'll notice the problem and stop while he can. If not.. He'll be uncontrollable over time... ie: when he's already taken most of the downgrade.
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3. The 'other' possibles like going too fast, sudden catastrophic equipment failure, etc. ... It DOES happen. (Google "Donner pass truck crash" and you'll see 2 drivers lose their lives) but... untill a grade becomes notorious, the expense of making a truck ramp will be hard to justify.

 

are you speaking of the Mass Pike.........?? coming from NY..?? i think that's "Jacob's Ladder"(?)

they only need but the one. after that, there aren't any "hills" worthy of escape ramps.

 

Didnt even have them when I started running CO NM and TX etc. Never worried about them but saw a truck that went in one. Cost $30,000.00 to get it out. Wil stop ya.

 

White Bird and Lewiston grade!
I had forgotten about those old roads.
I use to pull doubles up and down those switchbacks. Met myself coming and going on each turn.
If you recall, there was a pile of wrecked vehicles at the bottom of White Bird. They just left them there as an object lesson, I guess.

 

I haven't been over White Bird in about 3 years but, every time I think about that hill chills run up my spine remembering a winter day/icy roads/no chains.........When I go up/down I always look over at the old grade and wonder how many Drivers were killed.