In our last post, we began a discussion about truck safety. We observed how critical it is that the nation’s trucking industry, lawmakers, regulators and manufacturers prioritize truck safety given how much damage truck accidents can cause. We also noted that for the fourth consecutive year, the number of fatalities caused by truck accidents occurring on American roads has risen, according to the National Traffic Safety Board. In response to this sobering trend, the NTSB is urging federal highway regulators to make truck safety a top priority. Specifically, it is insisting that relevant agencies pass the more than 100 truck safety recommendations that the NTSB has [...]

We frequently write about the critical importance of commercial truck safety. Large commercial trucks traveling at significant speeds have the potential to harm virtually any vehicle, cyclist, pedestrian or property in their path. As a result, it is vitally important that truck drivers are adequately trained and that they are properly reprimanded if they stray from mandatory safety procedures and practices. Despite numerous educational campaigns, new federal regulations and a host of efforts by non-profits, legislators and the trucking industry itself, the rate of fatal and injurious truck accidents which occur annually continue to rise. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the number of fatalities [...]

We recently wrote about the potential safety implications of the restart rollback provisions contained within the most recent federal appropriations bill. We noted that because truck drivers are no longer required to obtain a certain level of rest before operating their vehicles that they could potentially pose an increasingly significant safety risk to themselves and those around them. Unfortunately, fatigued truck drivers are not the only reason why Americans can reasonably fear the risk of being involved in injurious or fatal truck accidents. Commercial big rigs are not always properly maintained and therefore can serve as a significant risk factor when it comes to the probability [...]

Complex political realities contributed to the passage of the latest federal appropriations bill. Because the bill needed to be passed with a sense of urgency, many lawmakers chose to take advantage of this fact and tacked a host of pet projects onto the bill. One of the pet projects added onto the appropriations bill is a rollback of the current restart provisions required of the trucking industry. When the president signed the appropriations bill, he also effectively halted the current restart provisions mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This means that commercial truck drivers are no longer required to limit the restart of their [...]

We frequently write about the hazards of distracted, drunk, drowsy and aggressive driving. Although each of these hazards is distinct, they all share a common thread. In each scenario, motorists who operate their vehicles while impaired, distracted, drowsy or emotionally agitated risk a failure to accurately perceive the road around them. Numerous studies confirm that detracting from the task of driving in any way places motorists at an increased risk for being involved in an accident. It is therefore disconcerting that the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Administration continues to grant licensure to commercial truck drivers who are blind in one eye. In general, federal regulations prohibit [...]

It is always dangerous for motorists to drive near large commercial trucks. However, it is especially dangerous to drive around these vehicles when the weather is poor. Given that you and your family may be driving in stormy or hazardous weather conditions as the holidays approach and the colder months progress in earnest, it is important to review basic safety tips designed to prevent truck accidents involving cars, light trucks, vans, SUVs and motorcycles. It is critical that you respect just how dangerous large commercial vehicles can be. Studies indicate that the majority of accidents involving both large commercial vehicles and any of the other vehicle [...]

Americans like to work hard and play hard. The trouble with this kind of approach to life is that it must be accompanied by a tendency to properly rest up from all that play and all that work. Most Americans are not prone to “rest hard” lest precious time be taken away from work and play. The consequences of this kind of imbalance are numerous, and can include health problems. In addition, it can lead to a staggering prevalence of drowsy driving behaviors among motorists. In recent years, driver fatigue has taken center stage in numerous media profiles, regulatory investigations and safety campaigns aimed specifically at [...]