Summer: A hazardous time with an increase in truck accidents

On Behalf of | May 24, 2018 | Uncategorized

The number of truck accidents that take place increases in the summer months. This is something you should be aware of, especially if you plan to use the highways this summer.

Truck-related crashes happen more in the summer than at other times for a number of reasons. For instance, there may be more tourists on the roads, more traffic from tourists and school letting out as well as additional construction and roadwork taking place in the good weather conditions.

The trucking industry is the backbone of commerce and the United States economy, so limiting that industry can only go so far. While regulations and restrictions aim to make drivers safer, there’s still an increased risk of crashes in the summer months.

How many people are killed in truck accidents?

Statistics from 2012 showed that 3,921 fatalities were reported as a result of truck accidents that year. Another 104,000 people were hurt in those crashes, sometimes including the drivers of the trucks. Maybe surprising is the fact that the number of fatal crashes increased 18 percent between 2009 and 2012, even though there are federal regulations that require safer truck-driving techniques.

Do many drivers use vehicles with defective or broken parts?

The maintenance of vehicles certainly is a problem. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, around 20.13 percent of the vehicles inspected were taken out of service for having violated too many regulations, resulting in a shocking 2,145,733 trucks removed from the roads. Out of the drivers, 4.89 percent were restricted from driving after being inspected and finding violations.

With millions of trucks on the roads, it’s vital that the drivers are safe and respectful of others on the roads. Drivers are often pushed to complete tasks quickly or to work long hours, but the reality is that they must take breaks, get enough rest, eat and slow down. Speeding puts others at risk, just like driving for long hours results in drowsiness and a higher risk of accidents.

There is a high demand for drivers in the United States, but that does not mean that drivers should get away with violations or be given a right to drive when they’re not trained appropriately. All drivers on the roads must have the right training and experience. If not, they could end up causing serious collisions in which many people lose their lives. That’s something to avoid at all costs.

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