It can definitely be intimidating to have to share the road with vehicles that outweigh you by several tons. However, not all drivers take sharing the highways with semi trucks as seriously as they should. To fully appreciate the dangers that are associated so you can be a more cautious driver when big trucks are around, it is a good idea to take a look at a few of the facts about semi-truck drivers and accidents.
Alarming Lethal Statistics
Every year in the United States, at least 5,000 people are killed in automobile accidents involving a semi truck. Usually, the ones that lose their life are those who are driving normal-sized cars and trucks and are struck by one of these massive vehicles during an accident. If you are ever involved in an accident with a big rig, this is undeniable proof that you should consider yourself lucky to make it through the ordeal alive, as the chances that you could become a statistic are pretty big.
Drug Use is Prevalent Among Truck Drivers
Blame it on stress levels or demanding work schedules, but the fact is, the numbers of truck drivers suspected of using illegal drugs is downright alarming. According to Reuters Health, about 30 percent of truck drivers surveyed in a study admitted to using amphetamines of some kind on occasion and as much as half had drunk alcohol while on the job. This scary number does vary from country to country, but even one semi driver on drugs or alcohol could be enough to cause a deadly crash involving several other vehicles.
Truckers Could Be Asleep at the Wheel
One recent study suggested that as many as 30 percent of American truck drivers could be suffering with some form of obstructive sleep apnea that can render them asleep behind the wheel of their truck while they are in the roadway. This is one big reason why it is crucial for you to stay alert when you share the road with a truck driver. The easiest way to avoid an accident is to be able to see it coming. If you suspect that a driver is not paying full attention because of erratic driving, call the local authorities and report the plate number. You never know when a driver could be slipping off to sleep without even realizing it.
Sharing the roads that you travel with vehicles of all shapes and sizes may come along with being a driver, but you do have the right to be safe when you are trying to drive safe yourself. If you have been injured in an auto accident involving a semi, talk to a truck accident lawyer like Teresa P Williams PA for advice.
Share24 August 2015
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