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Last Updated: October 10, 2024
Big trucks can lead to big injuries. Sharing the road with oversized vehicles like semi-trucks and tractor-trailers is a reality of life on U.S. roads. It can be scary, nonetheless. The sheer size of these vehicles aloneIt’s natural to be nervous when driving near semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles in Syracuse. Not only are commercial trucks much bigger and heavier than cars, but you also never know how long the truck driver has been awake. Truckers often work long hours on tight deadlines, and studies show drowsy driving is nearly as dangerous as impaired driving.
The Central New York truck accident attorneys at CDH Law PLLC want everyone to understand the dangers of driver fatigue, particularly among truck drivers. Following is a guide to the hazards of drowsy driving and how it can lead to severe injuries in truck accidents.
What Makes Driver Fatigue So Dangerous?
There are several ways driver fatigue makes a collision more likely and can exacerbate the injuries in a crash, including:
- Delayed reaction times – Tired drivers have a harder time thinking clearly and staying alert. These factors can cause them to make mistakes leading to a crash or miss potential hazards.
- Drifting within traffic lanes – Drivers suffering from severe fatigue may drift within their lane, either because they lose focus or drift off behind the wheel. These erratic movements can cause a collision if the fatigued driver’s car strikes another vehicle or an obstacle, such as a tree or traffic sign.
- Unpredictable drive movements – Fatigued drivers may suddenly slow down, speed up, or make other unexpected movements because they have trouble concentrating on driving. These irregular maneuvers make a collision more likely because other drivers will have a harder time anticipating the fatigued driver’s movement, and fatigued drivers can hit other vehicles they didn’t notice.
- Passing out behind the wheel – The worst possible situation involving a fatigued driver is when they fall asleep behind the wheel. An unconscious driver can’t maintain control of their vehicle and may make sudden, violent maneuvers that put themselves and other drivers in danger, often leading to a crash.
The Heightened Dangers of Drowsy Driving Among Truck Drivers
All of the dangers of drowsy driving are bad enough when someone is behind the wheel of a passenger car. But when the drowsy driver is operating a fully loaded semi-truck weighing 70,000-80,000 pounds, those risks increase. The great size and weight of semi-trucks cause the impact of a collision to inflict much more severe injuries than in crashes between passenger vehicles. A semi-truck with a fatigued driver at the wheel is a potential missile aimed at anyone else sharing the road.
Are There Rules for How Long Truck Drivers Can Stay Behind the Wheel?
Hours of Service regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and state authorities are meant to keep truckers from being behind the wheel for so long that fatigue becomes a problem. These rules limit how many hours per day and per week truckers can operate a truck without taking mandatory breaks. However, truck drivers sometimes ignore these rules, or their bosses may push them to keep driving to make an important delivery faster. When that happens, the risk of a drowsy driving accident increases substantially.
What To Do If You Encounter a Fatigued Truck Driver
If you see a truck on the road and it appears the driver is tired, the best thing to do is pull off the road or let the truck pass. Either option takes you out of the truck’s path to keep you safe. Once you are no longer in danger, call the police to report the truck driver. The police can take steps to prevent an accident.
Contact Our Syracuse & Central New York Truck Accident Attorney
It’s not always possible to avoid a collision with a fatigued truck driver. If you sustained injuries in a truck crash, CDH Law PLLC can handle all the legal work in your fight for fair compensation. Call us today or complete our contact form for a free case review.