Negligence Contributes To More Than Half of Trucker Accidents.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 415,000 reports that more than 415,000 crashes involve trucker accidents in the United States. And the concerning part is that there is a growing percentage of fatalities.
Surprisingly, 60 percent of accident with big trucks occurred on rural roads, while about 25 percent of them occurred on rural or urban interstate highways. In addition, 35 percent of all fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles occurred during the hours of 6 p.m. until 6 a.m.
What Causes Trucker Accidents?
As drivers, commercial truckers are generally considered above-average, but federal data indicates that their errors, mistakes, and negligence contribute to more than half of all truck crashes. Some crashes involved more than one factor:
- Vehicle: brake problems – 29 percent
- Driver: Traveling too fast for existing conditions – 23 percent
- Driver: Unfamiliar with roadway – 22 percent
- Environment: Roadway problems – 20 percent
- Driver: Over-the-counter drug use – 17 percent
- Driver: Inadequate surveillance – 14 percent
- Driver: Fatigue – 13 percent
- Driver: Felt pressure from carrier – 10 percent
- Driver: Illegal maneuver – 9 percent
- Driver: Inattention – 9 percent
- Driver: External distraction – 8 percent
- Vehicle: Tire problems – 6 percent
- Driver: Following too close – 5 percent
- Driver: Jackknifed – 5 percent
- Vehicle: Cargo shift – 4 percent
- Driver: Illness – 3 percent
- Driver: Internal distraction – 2 percent
- Driver: Illegal drugs – 2 percent
- Driver: Alcohol – 1 percent
Accident Risk for Driving Conditions & Commercial Vehicles
Considering all of the reasons for crashes involving commercial vehicles, drivers are much more likely to cause accidents than the vehicles they drive or the conditions in which they drive. The fact is, human error is the most prevalent cause of auto injury. It only makes sense that we see more manufacturers building in additional safety features for commercial vehicles. Governments can construct and maintain better roadways. These two things will contribute to safer drives but the human element still exists. The single most important factor in reducing the number of crashes involving truckers and other commercial vehicles is simply better driver training.
Data concerning crashes involving non-commercial vehicles suggests that distracted driving has grown into a more significant factor in accidents. A recent study by Progressive Insurance, for example, indicates the public believes that texting and looking at cell phones are two of the chief causes of traffic accidents. And although 62 percent of 18- to 34-year-old drivers believe that they can safely text and drive, 64 percent of that same group believe that texting or looking at a phone during driving is the most common cause of accidents.
No matter how safe the roads are, or how prepared you are as a driver, big trucks on the road present a problem because of their size. They turn wide, they have blind spots, drivers are sometimes tired from meeting delivery deadlines, and they commonly have brake issues when not properly maintained. You have to know that defensive driving is a must when on the road with these trucks. Keep your eyes open for any dangers that occur around trucks.
And, If you have an accident – be sure to get a copy of the police accident report. Truckers are often from out of state, and their trucks may be owned by a third party. As plenty of questions so that you have a clear understanding of who is responsible for the liability. If you are unsure how to handle asking about your claim, call The Brooks Clinic for guidance.
