Common Reasons Why Truck Accidents Occur

Unfortunately, many truck collisions are because of the driver error and mistakes on the part of the truck drivers. The following are some of the most common reasons:

TRUCK DRIVER FATIGUE AND TIREDNESS

Driver fatigue and sleep deprivation are one of the top reasons why truck accidents happen. There are regulations by the federal which sets restrictions for how long per week truck drivers can log their driving. The maximum limit set for those carrying cargo after they’ve had 10 consecutive hours off work is 11 hours. This will help truckers to avoid driver fatigue and give them ample time to get the rest or sleep they need. However, even if they are not supposed to drive many hours, most do anyway. Most of the time, their scheduled routes involved hundreds and even thousands of miles, which can wear down even the most seasoned driver.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

In order to cope with the demands of their life on the road, there are a lot of truckers that turn to illegal drugs and alcohol. Sadly, this causes deadly accidents despite numerous laws regulating substance abuse. Research shows that 8% of truck drivers use amphetamines while 12.5% have a problem with alcohol. According to legal experts, there are approximately 200,000 commercial truckers hitting the road who are suffering from problems with substance abuse. Unfortunately, many trucking companies hire their drivers without testing them properly. There are also times when truck drivers cheat on their drug tests to get the job. The worst thing about it is that once the accident happens, they tend to disappear miraculously, making it difficult to find, test, and require them to testify.

RECKLESS DRIVING AND SPEEDING

The reason why truck drivers frequently speed is that they are following strict timelines. Speeding accumulates to 29% of vehicular crash fatalities in 2013. And since 2004, it has been a contributing factor in around 30% of deaths in crashes. Large truck drivers exceeding the speed limit is putting other people the road in extreme danger since they are not driving in accordance with the traffic’s flow. Furthermore, it’s a tremendous concern especially since they’re driving a vehicle that’s 20 times heavier than a regular passenger car, add to that the weight of their load. A lot of truck collisions are caused by unnecessary speed coupled with drivers getting too close to other vehicles and changing lanes unsafely. They have the inability to stop immediately, and the potential jackknifing or rolling over are higher on commercial trucks as well.

DISTRACTED DRIVING

Commercial truck drivers spend more time on the road than the average drivers. Most of the time they are driving through remote locations, and the likelihood and temptation to get distracted here is greater since they may want to multitask. They may be tempted to text, talk to someone on the phone, or even read, which will take their focus off the road. The attention of truckers should be 100% on the road even if there’s no traffic. Any type of distraction, even setting up the GPS system can be hazardous. As we all know, taking our eyes off the road even for a millisecond can lead to fatal accidents.

TEXTING WHILE DRIVING

The majority of states in the US prohibits texting while driving, and there’s a nationwide ban for it for commercial truckers. However, even if there’s a law about it, some drivers still continue to do it while they are on duty. The possibilities of an accident happening while texting is increased significantly. There’s also an increase in the risk when it is combined with sleep deprivation and driver fatigue or when a trucker is navigating a road that he’s not familiar.

UNSAFE DRIVING PRACTICES

Each week, truckers drive through thousands of miles. Driving on roads that stretch for miles and miles can become wearisome and monotonous. Often, this leads to drivers operating their vehicles in an unsafe manner. Aside from over speeding, driving practices that are not safe include the following: Closely following another vehicle. Not checking for blind spots. Road rage. Not changing lanes often. Not using turn signals properly.

IMPROPER OR NOT ENOUGH TRAINING

A driver will become a road hazard if he has not undergone proper training on defensive driving, handling a commercial truck, and other essential safety factors.

INEXPERIENCED DRIVER AND UNKNOWN ROADS

Any driver will be faced with challenges if they are driving on an unfamiliar road. Just imagine if that individual is driving a vehicle weighing 80,000 pounds on rough roads with narrow and sharp curves for the first time. It’s unquestionably a disastrous combination of factors for anyone.