Sleep Deprived Truck Drivers Cause Serious Accidents
Truck accidents, like any other type of vehicle collision, can occur for a variety of reasons. Of these causes, however, truck driver error is one of the most common and can often be linked to fatigue or sleep deprivation. While always dangerous to drive fatigued, doing so as a commercial truck driver is particularly perilous because these vehicles pose such a significant risk of injury in the event of a crash. In fact, this risk is so high that the federal government actually put rules in place regulating how long truck drivers are permitted to operate their vehicles without taking a break. Unfortunately, many drivers, due to unrealistic demand from their employers, violate these rules and drive while fatigued, and in doing so, put any other road users in danger. These problems have only been compounded by a recent shortage of truck drivers in the U.S., with some safety experts estimating that truck driver fatigue contributes to as many as 40 percent of truck accidents.
The Physical Effects of Sleep Deprivation
Even when a person doesn’t actually fall asleep at the wheel, the very act of driving while fatigued is dangerous, as it:
- Reduces hand-eye coordination;
- Lowers attention span;
- Causes mental confusion and failures in judgment; and
- Diminishes reaction time.
In fact, the impairments that a fatigued driver experiences are very similar to those of an intoxicated motorist. For instance, being awake for 17 hours is similar to having a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .05 percent, while being awake for 24 hours is the same as having a BAC of .10 percent.
Causes of Truck Driver Fatigue
Truck drivers are a lot more likely to suffer from fatigue while driving, partly because they so often experience disruptions in their usual sleep patterns due to early morning wake-up times, late-night trips, and overnight travel. Most truck drivers are also required to drive at night, which makes it a lot easier to succumb to fatigue. Finally, working long shifts, while driving a heavy commercial vehicle, especially on congested roadways, is physically and mentally demanding and trying to remain alert for so many hours can be extremely taxing.
Federal Regulations Attempt to Reduce Truck Driver Fatigue
Under federal law, all commercial truck drivers must comply with specific hours-of-service rules that dictate how long a truck driver can spend on the road. For instance, truck drivers can only drive a maximum of ten hours after eight consecutive hours off duty. They must also take 30 minute breaks after driving for eight cumulative hours and are barred from driving more than 60 hours over seven consecutive days, or 70 hours over eight days. To ensure that they comply with these rules, drivers must also keep a close record of their on-duty hours.
Contact the Tulsa Trucking Accident Lawyers at Levinson Law
If you were injured in a truck accident that you have reason to believe was caused by a fatigued or negligent driver, you could be entitled to reimbursement for your medical bills, vehicle repair costs, and lost wages. To set up an evaluation of your own case, please contact the experienced Tulsa trucking accident attorneys at Levinson Law by calling 918-492-4433 today.
Sources:
ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Pages/SS9502.aspx
cdc.gov/niosh/work-hour-training-for-nurses/longhours/mod3/08.html
