The major cause of runaway trucks is descending downgrades at unsafe speeds. If the driver is lucky, there is an escape ramp to contain the vehicle, or the driver is able to avoid an accident and is left with nothing more than a bad case of nerves. However, far too often, runaway trucks are responsible for multiple deaths and major injuries, as well as the high cost of property damage.

The runaway problem is not all the driver's fault. Prior to this research, the driver had no way to assess the severity of a particular grade even when presented with the best information available, which was the length and steepness of the grade (e.g., this doesn't tell the driver which hill is worse:​ 6% for 5 miles or 7% for 3 miles).

This paper discusses two aspects of the runaway problem. First, we present a brief discussion of escape ramps. Ramps have been a traditional means of containing a runaway truck, and have proven successful in this endeavor. The second, and major portion of the paper discusses the development of a grade severity rating system which is used to create roadside signs to tell drivers the appropriate descent speeds based on gross truck weight. This methodology represents a major step forward in highway safety as it tells the driver WHAT TO DO, rather than presenting information which requires further evaluation.