For 40 Years I have proudly represented families that suffered tremendous loss as a result of an accident with a truck. Large tractor-trailers can and do cause deadly accidents, particularly when the drivers are fatigued and under pressure to get their loads delivered on time. Add in the fact that these trucks can’t stop or maneuver from one lane to another quickly, and you have a recipe for disaster on your hands. Recently, the Federal Government has taken steps to actually make roads more hazardous by relaxing the regulations on the number of hours a trucker can drive each day.
Restrictions on Driving Time
Under the current law, truck drivers are allowed behind the wheel for 11 hours out of a 14-hour daily window. After that period, drivers must be off of the road for a total of ten hours before they are allowed to drive again. No matter how close they are to their destinations, they need to pull over and get off of the road when they hit their maximum driving hours for the day. This law was enacted to keep other motorists safe, but soon the Federal Government is going to change it.
Profit Over Safety
Studies have shown fatigued truck drivers cause accidents, period! In 2017 alone, large trucks were involved in more than 4,600 fatal accidents. Since these vehicles weigh significantly more than cars and light trucks, it’s the small vehicle drivers who are hurt and often killed when an accident with a semi-truck occurs. Truck drivers are often protected from injury or death because they are in the larger vehicle.
Trucking companies are choosing profit over safety. They want their drivers on the road with fewer restrictions so that they can deliver more loads, making them more money. These companies have a good relationship with the President Trump and have lobbied for him to relax the restrictions. President Trump plans on officially doing just that, leaving thousands of motorists at risk, according to safety advocates.
Fatigued drivers have slower reaction times, and frequently fall asleep behind the wheel; both of which have deadly consequences since these vehicles can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. If the law is relaxed to allow truckers more driving hours per day, more accidents will occur and more people will die!
If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident call me right now and I’ll Make Them Pay!®