NHTSA Reports Alcohol-Related Fatal Accident Data

November 21, 2012

In connection with the larger campaign to reduce drunk driving, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the 2010 alcohol-impaired-driving fatal crash statistics.

The percent of large trucks involved in these accidents was three percent of the categories, which included "passenger car, light truck, large truck, motorcycle, bus and other." NHTSA noted that 2 percent of truck drivers involved in fatal accidents had blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 to 0.14. Of that number half had BAC of greater than 0.15, or almost more than twice the legal limit in every state.

While it is encouraging that professional truck drivers with commercial driver's licenses (CDL) had the lowest percent of drunk drivers, one must wonder why there were any, given the great damage resulting from truck crashes caused by impaired commercial drivers.

FMCSA Regulation of Truck Drivers

It is worrying that any truck drivers would drink and drive, given the risk, and the fact it is their professional livelihood at risk. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates the transportation industry. The agency prohibits truck drivers from using alcohol when "performing safety- sensitive functions."

If truck drivers test positive for alcohol and they have a BAC of 0.02, they must be removed from any safety sensitive functions for 24 hours. Truck drivers undergo required testing after any accident and at random intervals during the year. Following a violation of the FMCSA's alcohol standards, trucks drivers will be subject to random testing during the first six months after they are allowed to drive. This testing can continue for up to 60 months.

However, while drivers of big rigs risk their license and job when they drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs, it is often other drivers whose lives are at stake when a truck driver makes the poor choice of driving while impaired.

Improvements Still Needed

NHTSA Administrator David L. Strickland described it bluntly after the release of the statistics, "The latest numbers tell us people are not only making poor decisions and drinking and driving - they are getting deeply intoxicated before getting behind the wheel."

While is outrageous that drivers who make their living behind the wheel would risk the lives of others by driving drunk, they are not the only ones who make poor choices.

NHTSA's numbers indicate that more than 10,000 fatalities in 2010 involved an alcohol-impaired driver accounting for one-third of all highway fatalities. The most alarming number from the statistics was perhaps the fact that 70 percent of those crashes involved drivers with BAC readings of 0.15.

At almost twice the legal limit, it is unfortunate that these drivers can even operate a vehicle. Unfortunately, all too frequently, innocent drivers pay the price for their recklessness.

Following a crash that may have been caused by an impaired driver, contact an experienced North Carolina personal injury attorney. In an accident that involves a commercial vehicle, in addition to issues of impairment, there are complex issues involving corporate ownership and commercial insurance that an attorney can assist in navigating.

Article provided by Nagle & Associates, P.A.
Visit us at www.carolinatrucklawyer.com