Do you spend a lot of time on the highways in and around the San Antonio area? If so, you know that there are commercial trucks everywhere.
Since there is no way of avoiding these vehicles, you need to do whatever it takes to enhance your safety.
New electronic logs make it harder for truckers to drive fatigued
There are many contributing factors to fatal collisions between passenger vehicles and commercial trucks. Alcohol and drug consumption by either party, as well as distraction, can significantly increase the risk of a crash. Those risks are well-known, which is why federal law restricts trucks from texting while driving and most states, including Texas, have more strict blood alcohol limits for commercial drivers. One risk factor that often gets overlooked by the general population, however, is fatigued or exhausted driving.
Driving while tired can increase the time it takes to respond to changes in traffic or road situations. It can make it harder for a driver to focus on the task at hand. It can also even lead to someone falling asleep at the wheel, which puts everyone on the road at serious risk. When that driver has control of a massive commercial truck, tragedy could follow. That's why there are federal laws in place to limit how long commercial drivers can work.
When truckers drive tired, its puts other people in danger
Drunk driving and distracted driving are both serious risks to everyone on the road but they aren't the only serious concerns about safety when you're driving. There's also drowsy driving to worry about. When people get behind the wheel while tired, they put other people on the road at risk. When commercial drivers choose to continue driving when exhausted or fatigued, that risk factor increases.
People have the right to basic safety when driving, and that includes not sharing the road with people who create unnecessarily dangerous conditions. When commercial drivers choose to drive exhausted or drowsy and cause crashes, those who suffered injuries or lost a loved one should hold them accountable.
Highway hypnosis is a huge problem on the interstates
When you are on the road, you will likely expect that other drivers will be operating vehicles as safely as possible. This is true of many drivers, but some might be driving unsafely because of factors like fatigue or distractions.
Semitruck drivers on the roads are especially susceptible to fatigue-related issues. One of their concerns is "highway hypnosis." The term refers to an almost trance-like state drivers experience that can lead to fatal accidents. Here are some facts to know about highway hypnosis:
Staying safe around buses and big trucks: 3 things to know
If you are uncomfortable on the road when big trucks or buses are in proximity, you are not alone. The sheer size of these vehicles, and the severity of the crashes they can cause, are naturally a matter of concern.
Here are three things to be aware of as you try to stay safe.
3 questions about trucking accidents
Trucking accidents often result in injuries and death. They can hurt truck drivers as well as the drivers and passengers of normal vehicles. In fact, the drivers and passengers inside normal vehicle will be severely disadvantaged in any kind of a collision with a big rig due to the size and weight of the semitruck.
Semitruck accidents involve special considerations when compared to normal vehicle accidents. To investigate this topic further, let's look at three common questions related to semitruck crashes.
Self-driving commercial trucks could become the norm
If you think sleepy and distracted truck drivers are a problem, some computer engineers and automobile designers think they may have the solution: automated trucks that drive themselves. In fact, since last October, autonomously driven trucks have been delivering Frigidaire refrigerators along the I-10 freeway from Texas to California.
This issue certainly begs the question of whether such a large vehicle is safe when a computer is behind the wheel. Some experts believe that the vehicles are safer than human-driven trucks, but others disagree.
Commercial drivers can't legally use a cellphone while driving
People today use their phones for almost everything. There are very few places where you won't find someone on a cellphone. Despite this fact, there is one person who shouldn't ever use a cellphone -- a driver.
Drivers who are distracted by a phone are putting themselves and others in danger. When it comes to commercial vehicle drivers, including truckers, there are specific laws that forbid them from using a phone while they drive.
Avoiding drowsy driving: 3 things to know to help stay safe
We live in a sleep-deprived society in which countless numbers of products are delivered by truck. It's a dangerous recipe that results in far too many car and truck accidents caused by drowsy driving.
Here are some tips to stay safe and avoid trouble on the road.
Safety recommendations for semitruck drivers
Most truck drivers have seen motor vehicle operators doing some very risky and idiotic things on the road. In some cases, this unwise maneuvers result in car versus semitruck collisions that cause catastrophic injuries -- or worse -- death.
However, semitruck drivers also should take a cold, hard, critical look at their own driving behavior. They should also educate themselves on safety practices that could help them avoid a serious collision.
