There aren't many thoughts more frightening than a driver nodding off behind the wheel of a 100,000 pound vehicle going 70 mph down a busy freeway. Unfortunately, that terrifying scenario plays out in over 30% of the 500,000 truck accidents that occur annually across the United States.
In studies conducted by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 1994, 30-40% of heavy truck accidents involve driver fatigue and sleep deprivation. California is one of the highest ranking states in the area of fatal truck accidents, with 332 in 2003.
It's easy to understand how that happens, since most of a truck driver's earnings are based on timely delivery of their loads. The more they can deliver in a shorter amount of time, the more money they make. Naturally, many drivers are motivated to drive long hours, and often take dangerous measures to help them stay awake, such as drugs. However, even if a driver is wide awake with the help of self-medication, the natural effects of fatigue still linger. Vision, reaction times, and judgement are all effected by lack of sleep, regardless of how "awake" a driver may be.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates that a truck driver drive no more than 11 hours in any 14-hour period, which must then be followed by at least ten hours of rest. Daily drivers must drive no more than 70 hours in an eight day period. All drivers must maintain a logbook documenting all work and rest periods, and some trucking companies use electronic on-board recorders (EOBR) to record when the vehicle is in motion or stopped. The FMCSA is considering making the EOBR units mandatory in all commercial trucks.
Although the information above focuses on truck crashes involving driver fatigue, and it makes it easy to vilify truck drivers when involved in accidents, it's only fair to point out that over half of all heavy truck accidents are actually caused by the other vehicles involved. Drivers "cutting off" trucks or losing control around them are usually at fault. With their size, it's easy to misjudge how fast an 18-wheeler is actually going. Many people assume that their smaller car is going to be able to easily whip around a "slow moving" truck, only to find that the truck isn't moving as slow as they thought.
Many accidents involving big trucks don't actually "involve" the truck at all. Rather, a vehicle collides with another while trying to pass on a two-lane highway where, again, the speed of the truck is underestimated, and the passing vehicle is unable to get back in the proper lane in time. Sometimes that scenario does involve the truck as the passing driver makes a desperation move to avoid the crash or is deflected into the truck by the collision. Many drivers ignore the signs on the back of large trucks that state "makes wide turns," and try to pass a truck on the inside, only to end up underneath the trailer.
It's important to not only be aware of the trucks on the road, but to remember that they are often traveling just as fast, or faster than we are, and it can take the length of a football field for them to come to a complete stop. When approaching a truck or attempting to pass, always give it a "wide berth" by not getting too close, and give plenty of clearance before re-entering the same travel lane. If a truck is passing you, slow down a bit and give the driver the universal courtesy of blinking your headlights to let him know when he has the clearance to enter your lane again. You may see him reply "thank you" by flashing his tail lights off and on. Remember, courtesy goes a long way on the open road.
Also, be aware of whether a truck appears to be swerving or losing control. Although the cases of driver-fatigue-related truck accidents are declining (FMCSA, 2010), it still happens far too often. If you have been involved in an accident with a truck or any other vehicle, contact our offices immediately to discuss your case.
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