Why do downhills have slopes for runaway trucks?

It's not the fact that truck brakes fail more often than car brakes per se, it's that the consequences of a runaway car and a runaway truck are vastly different. A car can weigh anywhere from a 2000 lbs to maybe 8500–9000 for a larger SUV or pickup truck. read more

The runaway slopes are there in case there's an unavoidable situation and the truck (or any vehicle for that matter) is unable to stop. In that situation the vehicle drives into the designated space where they are slowed down by an upward slope and dirt. read more

Most ramp have a slight uphill grade, and are made with sand and/or gravel laid deep, so that when a truck enters the ramp and drives onto the gravel and/or sand, it rapidly sinks into the material and quickly comes to a stop. read more

Using a runaway truck ramp can help to avert a major accident, and potentially save lives, although some truckers shy away from escape ramps because they feel that using such a ramp is an indicator of lack of skill or experience. read more