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Jackknifing

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HD Tractor-trailer jackknife and Texas icy slides caught on camera - January 24, 2014

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What Happens In A Tractor Jackknife? - TruckingTruth.com

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Professional driver jackknifing a 53 foot trailer into a parking space.

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Traffic cams capture semi truck jackknife in rain-slick Minneapolis tunnel

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Mastering Backing: Sight Side Jackknife

Jackknifing refers to the folding of an articulated vehicle so that it resembles the acute angle of a folding pocket knife. If a vehicle towing a trailer skids, the trailer can push the towing vehicle from behind until it spins the vehicle around and faces backwards. This may be caused by equipment failure, improper braking, or adverse road conditions such as an icy road surface. In extreme circumstances, a driver may attempt to jackknife the vehicle deliberately in order to halt it following brake failure. A jackknife event of a heavy vehicle can be fatal to the driver as the top of the cab can be crushed or sliced off as it swings round violently and tries to fold under the trailer.
  • Trailer swing 

  • Anti-jackknife devices