There are approximately 35,000 fatal crashes every year in the US, with 8 percent of these involve big rig and other large trucks, according to a data released by the Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
There are approximately 35,000 fatal crashes every year in the US, with 8 percent of these involve big rig and other large trucks, according to a data released by the Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
While the percentage of truck accidents is relatively smaller compared to other types of vehicles, a survey shows that truck-related crashes account for nearly 46 percent of all traffic deaths every year.
These are the two leading factors that attributed to the high rate of accidents involving trucks:
1. Driver’s fatigue
While truck accidents have slightly decreased over the past few years, fatigue-related crashes have not declined even if there is a federal law that limits the time drivers can operate commercial vehicles.
Several studies suggested that fatigue driving is as dangerous as DUI driving. This finding is supported by surveys showing that majority of accidents happened between midnight and 3 a.m. in the morning—the period in which people are supposed to be sleeping.
To address this problem, the federal government has passed a law called Hours-of-Service (HOS) Regulation that limits the time commercial drivers can operate their vehicles.
This regulation, which is based on scientific data and extensive surveys, covers these types of vehicles:
• Weighing 10,001 lbs. or higher
• Used to transport goods from one state to another
• Used to transport hazardous materials
• Used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver)
Under HOS regulation, drivers of product-carrying trucks should have 10 consecutive hours of rest before they can drive up to a maximum of 11 hours. These drivers are also required to have an eight-hour of sleep and another two-hour break.
Meanwhile, drivers of passenger-carrying vehicles are required to have an eight-hour off duty before they can drive up to a maximum of 10 hours. They are also required to take at least eight hours in the sleeper berth (this is a term used in transportation industry which means a small sleeping compartment).
2. Reckless Motorists
According to the researchers from Los Angeles, about 75 percent of truck-related accidents were caused by motorists other than the truck drivers. With this finding, experts believe that majority of private drivers are not aware of the truck’s limit.
These are the most common fatal mistakes committed by private drivers in truck-related crashes:
• Making a left turn in front of a truck.
• Dangerously changing lanes (without giving signal to a truck)
• Driving in front of a truck and then suddenly reducing the speed
• Misjudging the speed of a truck
• Driving between two large trucks
• Driving in the truck’s blind spot
