When a truck driver does not get enough rest, driver fatigue can set in and cause the trucker to fall asleep at the wheel. Truck wrecks can cause the occupants of the other vehicle to sustain substantial injuries, and may even cause death. There are many causes of truck accidents, but trucker fatigue has become a serious safety concern. Research indicates that trucker fatigue is the cause of truck wrecks 30 to 40 percent of the time.*
Trucking Rules
The Federal Motor Safety Administration (FMSA) regulates the operation of commercial trucks. Hours-of-Service (HOS) Regulations limit the amount of time a driver may operate a truck. The goal of HOS rules is to decrease truck fatalities. According to HOS Regulations, a trucker can only drive a maximum of eleven hours after ten consecutive hours off duty, and a driver who uses a sleeper berth must spend at least eight consecutive hours in it and an additional two consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, off duty, or a combination of both.
Why Trucker Fatigue Causes Accidents
Although HOS Regulations limit the amount of time a driver can continuously operate a truck before taking a break, trucker fatigue continues to be a serious problem and a leading cause of truck wrecks. According to a 2006 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study, 21 percent of truck drivers in 2005 admitted that they had fallen asleep while driving. This was a 50 percent increase from the 2001 data, which showed that only 13 percent of drivers admitted to falling asleep at the wheel.
Surveys conducted by the IIHS in 2004 and 2005 found that drivers spent more time driving, either in violation of HOS rules or because of changes to HOS Regulations. The survey showed that one in five drivers began driving longer hours after HOS rules changed to allow longer driving time. The survey also concluded that three-quarters of drivers admitted to violating either the limits on maximum working hours or the limits on maximum driving hours.
If you were involved in a Texas truck wreck, a Houston truck accident attorney can help you receive compensation for your injuries. Call the Law Office of Denena & Points at 713-807-9500or at 877-307-9500 for a consultation.
*Source: National Transportation Safety Board, “Factors That Affect Fatigue in Heavy Truck Accidents: Volume 1: Analysis,” January 18, 1995