Dangerous truckers: Drowsy driver narrowly avoids serious accident

April 30, 2013

A trucker fell asleep at the wheel last month near Walker, Louisiana and rolled his 18-wheeler, impeding highway traffic for 12 hours. Luckily, no one suffered any injuries in the truck accident and, once the truck was unloaded and removed from the scene, life was back to normal. It could have easily ended much differently for the trucker and other motorists on the road that early morning.

Distracted driving awareness

The U.S. National Safety Council has declared that April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and no one has any doubt that distractions commonly cause motor vehicle accidents. What is interesting, however, is that fatigued driving is to blame for approximately 20 percent of all automobile accidents in the U.S. each year, according to a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. Other findings from the study include the following:
- Drivers ages 18 to 20 account for significantly more drowsy driving accidents than any other age group
- More fatigued driver accidents occur during the day, rather than during the night
- Drivers who choose to drive while tired are four times more likely to be involved in a crash or near-crash than non-tired drivers

Drivers of large trucks -- trailer-tractors, 18-wheelers and semis -- present a great risk to other motorists due to the sheer size of their rigs. Truck driver fatigue is a real concern for trucking companies and the agencies that monitor and regulate truckers. Federal and state laws dictate how long a truck driver can work each day and how long driving breaks should be.

Recently, Australian researchers studied how the use of caffeine affects long-haul truck drivers. It was noted that truckers who drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages were significantly less likely to get into fatigue-related accidents. However, researchers were quick to point out that caffeine often helps drivers only in the short-term and should not be relied upon to keep a driver alert indefinitely.

Sharing the road with trucks

Anyone sharing a road with trucks should be aware of the dangers they can present. When approaching a large truck, consider these tips:
- Avoid staying too long in the driver's blind spots, the area beside or close behind the truck where you are not visible in the driver's mirrors
- Pay attention to weather conditions; trucks behave quite differently in windy or slick conditions
- Do not pull in too closely in front of a truck as it cannot slow down or stop as quickly as a smaller vehicle
- Avoid passing on the right side of trucks as they may be turning right and can cut you off without knowing you are there

A lawyer can help if you are injured

If you or a loved one suffers an injury due to a negligent driver, seek the counsel of an experienced personal injury lawyer. An attorney knowledgeable about truck and car accidents may be able to help you obtain compensation for your injuries and losses.

Article provided by Murphy Law Firm LLC
Visit us at www.neworleanspersonalinjurylawyer.com