Jody D. Peterman, LLC | Attorney at Law

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Are truckers more likely to cause a distracted driving accident?

On Behalf of | Sep 15, 2021 | Truck Accidents |

Consumers across the nation rely on truckers to move goods and materials across incredible distances in a short amount of time. Unfortunately, these professional drivers are not immune to the temptation of passing the time or multitasking while behind the wheel. Activities such as eating a snack or having a phone conversation might seem innocuous on the surface, but they can pull attention from safely piloting an enormous truck along a busy road.

Commercial drivers must follow strict regulations regarding rest periods and electronic device usage. These rules are in place to curb unsafe behavior and encourage drivers to remain attentive and focused on the road. Research published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) highlighted numerous frightening facts regarding truckers and electronic device usage, including:

  • Truckers who dial a mobile phone while driving have six times greater odds of being involved in a collision or unintentional lane deviation than drivers who do not perform this action.
  • Truckers who dialed a mobile phone while driving took their eyes off the road for an average of 3.8 seconds. At 55 miles per hour, this equates to driving more than 300 feet without looking at the road.

Due to their size, weight and highway speeds, a truck can deliver a fatal blow to nearly any other vehicle on the road. From rear-end collisions when failing to recognize stopped or slowed traffic to head-on collisions if the driver drifts into oncoming lanes, these truck crashes can result in catastrophic injuries. The occupants of smaller passenger vehicles can suffer broken bones, brain damage, spinal cord trauma, paralysis and amputation. Severe collisions can result in the death of drivers and passengers as well as pedestrian traffic.

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