Truck rollovers pose a significant threat to road safety because they often have drastically greater consequences for drivers, fleet operators, and the public. While much attention is paid to what causes a rollover, more attention should be given to how to prevent a rollover.

While cause and prevention are closely related there are additional preventative measures to keep in mind. The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, says: “International analysis reveals that over 78% of rollovers involve driver error. While awareness of common errors and causes is essential, prevention is also better than cure.

“One of the best preventative measures is driver training that includes simulation of truck rollovers. In many countries, this simulation is digital. Yet, in Africa MasterDrive took this a step further, equipping an 18-wheeler rig with outriggers that allow for hands-on and practical experience with rollovers.”

Research pinpoints excessive speed as the greatest contributing factor in 45% of rollover accidents. “While speed is a major factor, it is often not excessive speed but rather going around curves slightly too fast - which is exacerbated by improper load distribution, sudden steering movements, and distraction.

“Obtaining a full understanding of this is best obtained with one’s hands on the steering while increasing speed, even marginally, while cornering to wilfully initiate a rollover in one of these specially designed rigs. There is no better lesson than feeling a truck start to tip while knowing there is nothing you can do to prevent it.”

MasterDrive’s innovative use of outrigger simulation technology is only one of its kind in Africa. “The groundbreaking approach allows drivers to experience what happens when the laws of physics are ignored and feel the sensations of a potential rollover without the actual danger of a complete overturn. It demonstrates how easily trucks can rollover while ensuring safety for drivers.

“The real-time simulation addresses a fundamental lesson that helps drivers understand how quickly and easily rollovers occur. The combination of classroom instruction, along with feeling the physical experience of a vehicle's centre of gravity shifting, can only be fully appreciated with practical hands-on experience.”

Various skills and knowledge development is obtained through simulated training:

• Recognise the early warning signs of impending rollover situations
• Understand the relationship between speed, load distribution, and vehicle stability
• Practice proper recovery techniques in a controlled environment
• Develop intuitive responses to high-risk scenarios

As road crashes and fatalities continue to be problematic, innovative training solutions are necessary to change this. “With realistic, memorable experiences that demonstrate the consequences of even slight changes to driving, will create lasting behavioural change for safer roads for all,” says Herbert.