Have you ever seen a dirt or gravel road extending from the highway for just a short distance and wondered “what is the point of that?” That is a runaway truck ramp, something you never want to have to use for yourself.
These features are designed to prevent crashes when truck brakes fail. They’re typically found along steep downhills like those in the Appalachian Mountains or the Rocky Mountains. This video shows the moment a semi-truck’s brakes fail along Interstate 64 in West Virginia, forcing the driver to head into the gravel ramp.
Runaway truck ramps exist to prevent crashes and tragic accidents. In some states, like Colorado, using a runaway truck ramp comes with no punishment, but causing a crash or injuring others because you chose not to use one comes with citations and potential arrest.
