Why Truck Driver Fatigue Is a Common Cause of Truck Accidents

 Posted on June 27, 2022 in Personal Injury

The trucking industry is an essential component of the American economy. Goods and materials need to be shipped to locations throughout the United States on a constant basis, and this need has only increased in recent years as more and more people shop for products online. Unfortunately, this has led to increasingly difficult conditions for truck drivers. Drivers are required to spend long hours on the road, and since they are encouraged to deliver cargo as quickly as possible, they may continue driving past the point when they can remain fully awake and in control of their vehicles. 

Driver fatigue is one of the most common causes of truck accidents, and it puts everyone on the road at risk of being injured or killed. Due to current practices in the trucking industry, driver fatigue is an increasing concern. When commercial drivers are tired, they are more likely to miss important details that may help them avoid accidents, and they may experience increased reaction times or other issues that affect their ability to maintain control of their trucks. When drivers become drowsy, they are even more likely to collide with other vehicles, and nodding off for even just a moment can have deadly results.

Conditions Leading to Truck Driver Fatigue

To help ensure that truck drivers can properly control commercial vehicles, they are required to follow regulations regarding their hours of service. These regulations limit the number of hours a person can drive at a time, and they require drivers to take regular breaks and receive sleep between shifts. However, even when drivers abide by all applicable regulations, they are still likely to experience fatigue, especially since non-driving hours that are logged as “sleeping” are often spent loading or unloading cargo, finding a place to park, eating meals, taking showers, and dealing with other issues.

To make matters worse, drivers are often required to work irregular hours, driving at night on some days or while being on the road during daytime on other days. This can make it difficult for a person to receive proper rest and get enough sleep at different times of the day or night. At the same time, drivers are encouraged to deliver cargo as quickly as possible, and trucking companies may require them to continue driving even if they believe it is not safe to do so. 

With a shortage of drivers and high rates of turnover in the profession, fewer drivers are available, and the requirements to deliver cargo on time will often lead drivers to skirt regulations and engage in unsafe practices. To combat fatigue, drivers may use a variety of methods of staying awake, such as driving with their windows open, playing loud music on the radio, or drinking caffeinated beverages. Unfortunately, these methods do not actually address fatigue, and they can provide a false sense of security, leading drivers to act unsafely and put others at risk.

Contact Our Kent County Truck Accident Attorney

When truck drivers and trucking companies engage in unsafe practices, they put others at risk of being seriously injured or killed in collisions. Following these types of accidents, John D. Tallman, PLC, Attorney at Law can help victims take legal action to hold truck drivers and their employers responsible for the harm caused by their negligence. To learn how we can help demonstrate that a collision was caused by driver fatigue and ensure that victims will be fully compensated, contact our Grand Rapids truck accident lawyer today at 616-361-8850 and arrange a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/driver-safety/cmv-driving-tips-driver-fatigue

https://www.ctctrucking.com/post/how-to-avoid-truck-driver-fatigue

https://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/Article-1766/the-sleep-cycle-of-a-truck-driver-it-doesnt-exist