Tragic highway accidents, unfortunately, happen almost every day. Here are some of the most common causes of truck accidents.
Driving on the road can be dangerous. One must be aware of their surroundings and other vehicles at all times. Catastrophic accidents can happen in a split second while driving on the highway. Semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles are very common on the roads. Due to their large size, these trucks are harder to control and take longer to brake than smaller cars. Semi-trucks need extra distance between them and other vehicles on the road in order to maintain a safe barrier around them. Some of the most dangerous accidents on the road are caused by large commercial vehicles. Studies have found that about 500,000 accidents on the road are caused directly or indirectly by commercial trucks. Tragic highway accidents, unfortunately, happen almost every day. Here are some of the most common causes of truck accidents.
Driver Exhaustion
Driver fatigue is a serious problem in the trucking industry. While their hours are dictated and limited by the law, truck drivers still often have extended hours and demanding schedules. Most drivers travel very long distances at a time, with few breaks in between. Drivers will sometimes push themselves to finish a route despite their fatigue in order to make it to their destination on time. This can cause drivers to lose focus, fall asleep at the wheel, and cause crashes.
Distracted Driving
Distraction and inattention is an issue for all drivers on the road, not just truckers. It only takes a split-second distraction to cause a very serious accident. While driving for many hours over long distances, drivers get bored on the road and often look for something to keep them occupied. The most common form of distracted driving is texting or using a smartphone while on the road. Taking your eyes off the road even for a moment can cause you to miss important cues like road signs and stoplights. More seriously, it can cause collisions with other drivers.
Driver Error
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 88% of truck-related crashes are due to driver’s error. This can include crashes caused by a speeding driver, a driver who fails to check blind spots before switching lanes, and driver confusion. Some of the mistakes truck drivers can make include anything from negligent driving(e.g., speeding) to distracted driving (e.g., texting) to substance use or abuse