Category: Truck Accidents

With the arrival of the holiday season in Tennessee comes an increase in road activity. More semi-truck drivers are on the roads than usual. Many of these vehicle operators are putting in longer hours so they can meet shipment deadlines and earn extra pay. However, there is a downside that many motorists are not aware of. The longer truck drivers spend on the roads, the greater their risk of car crashes and injuries. According to Safer America, there were 3,906 fatalities that occurred out of 338,000 truck crashes in 2013.

Many truck drivers are tired

Driving for long hours at a time can lead to fatigue and tiredness. Many big rig employers offer their employees incentives for meeting delivery and shipment deadlines ahead of time. Many truckers earn those rewards by driving without taking many or any rest stops. This often leads to them operating vehicles while they are partially aware and so exhausted that they are unable to make safe and sound driving decisions, states GaugeMagazine.com. They may also fail to notice signals and signs of driver intent from other motorists.

Speed and aggressive driving tactics

Some truckers tend to speed and use aggressive driving behaviors so they can reach their destinations on time. Their disregard for traffic rules, signs and the safety of other motorists can create hazardous situations on the road. Other drivers may misjudge their actions and try to compensate for them only to find themselves involved in big-rig accidents.

Truck drivers who are on the roads during the holidays should remember to drive with caution and full alertness. Motorists who are also on the streets should give special consideration to commercial vehicles so they can remain safe when they are around. Drivers should be prepared to drive defensively and to report any odd, improper and unsafe driving behaviors to authorities.

When truckers in Tennessee drive while they are hungry, they are more likely to engage in distracted driving. This often creates many dangers for other motorists who are sharing the roads with them. Many of them work many hours and may not take many rest or food stops in an effort to meet their shipment deadlines. According to CDL Life, accidents are more likely to occur for truck drivers than it is for other motorists. Government officials and local law enforcement agencies have ramped up their efforts to catch truckers who engage in distracted driving behaviors to reduce the number of accidents, injuries and casualties that occur.

“Eating and drinking while behind the wheel are distracting activities that many drivers, including truckers engage in”, states Napa. By taking their meals on the road with them, they can travel faster. However, doing so also increases the risk of them not paying attention to the roads like they should.

Eating and drinking often requires truckers to remove one or two hands from their steering wheels, making it hard for them to control and maneuver the vehicles properly. In the event of spills and food dropping, truck drivers may also remove their eyes from the roads momentarily. The few seconds to moments their eyes leave the streets and hands leave the wheel are enough time for their vehicles to wander into other lanes. Truckers may also fail to notice driving signals and behaviors of other motorists on the road which can increase their chances of collision significantly.

Truckers should limit their food and drink consumption while they are driving. If that is not possible, pulling over to a safe location on the side of the roads so they can nourish themselves is recommended. This can help to reduce the threat of accident and injury that is associated with truckers who eat and drive.

With the arrival of the holiday season comes the need for truck drivers in Tennessee to spend longer hours on the road than usual. In an effort to make their shipment quotas and deadlines, many large vehicle operators are using distractions to keep themselves awake when they are behind the wheel. Distracted driving is an easily correctable behavior, states American Trucking Associations. When truck drivers are distracted, their driving performance suffers and puts everyone in danger on the streets.

Common methods of distraction

Driving for long hours can be lonely for many big rig operators. Much of their time is spent on the roads and many of them are using it to contact their friends and family to help keep them from becoming bored and falling asleep. Using their cellphones to have conversations and exchange text messages are major sources of distractions. According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “commercial vehicle operators are not allowed to text while they drive”. Those who are caught doing so are breaking the law and face legal action, fines and risk losing their jobs.

Many truck drivers have to travel in unfamiliar territories causing them to rely on maps and GPS devices to get to their destinations. Instead of pulling over to the side of the roads or checking for directions at rest stops, many big rig operators are using their maps and GPS devices to guide them while they are operating their vehicles. When they are checking for directions, they are no longer looking fully at the roads and the vehicles that are around them.

Truck drivers who are distracted from performing their jobs properly for even a few seconds are a danger to everyone. Big rig operators should remind themselves of the dangers that this behavior presents and take corrective actions to prevent it.

Distracted driving is a rising epidemic in Tennessee that is not exclusive to regular motorists. Not only do truck drivers endanger themselves, they also put pedestrians and motorists at risk for harm. Distractions like talking and texting on cellphones while driving can cause truckers to overlook up to 50 percent of everything that is going on around them, states TransForce. This includes pedestrians, other motorists and traffic signs and lights.

According to TruckerMagazine.com, each year, distracted commercial driving accidents result in hundreds of thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths. To reduce the frequency of those incidents, The Department of Labor and Occupational Safety& Health Administration has introduced some new guidelines and regulations to improve truck driver safety. With the creation of the “Distracted Driving Initiative”, more focus can be given to preventing commercial vehicle operators from engaging in behaviors that distract them from driving.

Commercial motorists may feel the temptation to engage in this risky kind of behavior because they spend long hours on the road and often end up feeling bored. They may feel lonely or are in need of some type of side activities to help keep them awake and somewhat focused on the task. Due to the nature of their jobs and the type of vehicle and cargo they may be hauling, truck drivers cannot afford to be distracted in any kind of way. When they do engage in distracted driving, it usually a combination of the three kinds; visual, cognitive and manual.

Commercial vehicle operators who drive distracted should remember that they are not just putting themselves at risk for accident, injury and death, they are also compromising their livelihood. They are also increasing the chances of their employers being held liable. To help mitigate the risks, employers are encouraged to implement processes and regulations that discourage and ban distracted driving behaviors, such as texting.

Truck accidents are on the rise in Tennessee. Drivers of semi -trucks and big rigs often spend many hours behind the wheel. Due to the nature of their jobs, many truck drivers find themselves engaging in unsafe driving behaviors in an effort to fulfill their duties. However, the number of truck driving incidents is decreasing. Due to new policies and laws in the trucking industry and oversight from the government and federal officials, the number of truck accidents that occurred from 2007 to 2010 declined by 25 percent, states uShip.

Causes of truck accidents

There are many reasons why truck drivers are involved in accidents. They could be distracted by something or someone inside of their vehicles while they are operating them. Semi-drivers may not be too familiar with the roads they are traveling on. They may also use illegal and improper driving maneuvers that cause other drivers to try to compensate for their actions. Primary causes of truck accidents involve semi-drivers being too tired to pay full attention to the road, their vehicle and other motorists; and driving too fast without regard for road conditions.

The statistics

According to a study in Science Daily, eight percent of all traffic on the highways is from trucks. 11 percent of highway accidents involve commercial vehicles. 4,500 people die each year from injuries they sustained from being involved in truck accidents. When the number of trucks on the road increases and the traffic volume of other vehicles decreases, the number of truck crash incidents rise. So does the severity of those accidents.

Truck drivers can take certain measures to reduce their chances of being involved in a crash. Taking frequent breaks, getting training for their vehicles and using safe driving behaviors can help to keep them and everyone else who is on the road safe.

Fatigued drivers are not just a danger to themselves, they can cause harm to other motorists who are on the road in Tennessee. With the rate of fatigued drivers increasing, you may be wondering how you can fight driver fatigue. Fatigued driving involves motorists who are sleepy, drowsy and less alert while they are on the road. According to Drop It and Drive, there are several actions you can take to stay awake when you are behind the wheel.

Before you get ready to travel, you should consider drinking some coffee. Coffee is in moderation may be healthy for you. The caffeine in it can help give you the boost of energy you need to stay alert while you are driving. You should avoid eating before you hit the road. If you must have something, make sure that it is light so it will not bog down your digestive system. If you consume a heavy meal immediately before driving you may feel sluggish and tired which will affect your alertness and safety while you are on the road. If possible, allow a sufficient amount of time to go by before you drive after consuming a heavy meal.

If you are going to be driving for longer than 20 or 30 minutes, you should allow for extra time when you are planning your commute. You want to incorporate enough breaks to give you the opportunity to thoroughly stretch, move around and take in some fresh air so you can wake up and feel more alert. If you are still feeling tired or fatigued after a few moments, then you should take a short nap so you can refresh yourself.

In addition to the above suggestions, you should avoid using cruise control and allowing your vehicle’s cabin to become too warm. You want to be comfortable, but not too comfortable to the point that you may fall asleep.

It is not uncommon for fatigue to set in even if you are not tired when you are driving for long intervals on the road. However, making preparations before you get into your vehicle and taking preventative measures while you are driving can help you to fight driver fatigue and keep you getting into car accidents.

Many motor vehicles and motorcycles come equipped with electronic stability control. While these machines are essential for the safety of motorists, officials believe that adding this technology to tractor trailers could not only improve the safety of truck drivers, but everyone else on the road as well. At Pryor, Priest and Harber, we understand how truck accidents can leave victims with serious injuries or dealing with the loss of a loved one. That is why big rig safety is crucial.

When truckers are faced with heavy traffic conditions or have a vehicle pull out directly in front of them, they often require a longer distance to slow down and/or stop. Furthermore, trucks that brake while traveling in bad weather conditions or with a poorly distributed load may be more likely to tip over, skid or jackknife. Electronic stability control systems can prevent this from happening by detecting when a truck is understeering, oversteering, hydroplaning or swerving, and then helping the truck driver to gain control of the big rig’s steering mechanism.

The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration reported that electronic stability control systems on tractor trailers can reduce large truck accident fatalities that are caused by loss-of-control by 14 percent. Big rig accidents involving rollovers may drop by up to 56 percent due to electronic stability control system installation in large trucks and buses.

People who are interested in learning more about what to do after the occurrence of a large truck accident should visit out truck accident page to find out more.

Tennessee car owners must keep their vehicles well-maintained in order to ensure that they are working properly on the road. The simplest oversight can lead to a flat tire or worn brakes that could potentially cause a devastating accident. Similarly, it is crucial that tractor trailers are routinely checked and properly cared for so that they don’t pose a threat to other vehicles on the road. According to the Federal Highway Administration, big rigs can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and, in some cases, can span a length of over 56 feet. At Pryor, Priest & Harber, we understand that people can be severely injured if a piece of equipment malfunctions or a safety device fails to work properly.

Trucking companies are required to conduct a detailed inspection of all the tractor trailers in the fleet at least once a year and keep complete documentation as to the condition of each truck, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. In addition, truckers must inspect vital truck parts prior to beginning their route. A surprising number of trucking companies and truck drivers, however, fail to perform these essential inspections, and as a result, put the lives of others on the road at risk.

In 2012, more than 2.1 million tractor trailers were taken off of U.S. highways after officials found that they had equipment safety violations. Trucks may have trouble stopping if there is a problem with the braking system. Furthermore, problems with the tires or steering components could make it difficult for the truck driver to maintain control of a massive truck.

Surviving the aftermath of a truck collision can be overwhelming. Read our page on commercial truck accidents to learn more.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has set regulations requiring truck drivers to take periodic rests throughout their drive. In addition, truckers are prohibited from driving more than 11 hours in a 24-hour period and 77 hours each week, as stated in the Hours of Service regulations. While all truckers in Tennessee and across the nation are held to this rule, a number of truck drivers fail to keep accurate driving records. As a result, fatigued truck drivers are at higher risk of causing catastrophic accidents, as well as injuring and killing innocent people.

A rule that was recently passed by the U.S. Department of Transportation will require all bus and commercial truckers to use electronic logging devices when recording their driving hours, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. Up until this point, truckers were responsible for keeping their own hours logged in a written book. Hand-written log books made it easy for truckers to manipulate their driving hours in order to spend more time on the road. More driving hours equates to a larger paycheck and helps truckers meet tight delivery deadlines. Yet a number of people are killed each year in truck accidents caused by drowsy truckers.

Not only do electronic logging devices record important information, including vehicle movement, miles driven, engine hours and location, this data can be sent to truck company headquarters to help control the fleet. The rule, which will require trucks to have electronic logging devices by December 2017, is expected to prevent at least 562 injuries and save countless lives every year. 

There are many factors that can contribute to a large truck collision in Knoxville, including bad weather, traffic signals, vehicle design, truck maintenance and traffic conditions. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, one contributing factor involves the amount of experience the truck driver has on the road. Large truck operators must be specially trained and licensed to drive big rigs, as these large vehicles operate much differently than other motor vehicles.

Inexperienced and negligent truck drivers can cause major tractor trailer accidents, leading to serious injuries and even death. One study conducted by the FMCSA sought to find the main factors that led to a number of truck accidents over a 33-month period. The results showed that poor driver performance, inexperience and negligence contributed to the 87 percent of the accidents. The specific truck driver behaviors included the following:

•          Driver was physically impaired with alcohol, distraction or fatigue.
•          Driver was inexperienced, anxious and/or made poor decisions on how to react to a situation.
•          Driver was speeding, tailgating or displaying another form of reckless behavior that made it difficult to respond to road conditions.

Researchers also found that speeding tractor trailers were involved in 30 percent of the study group.

Due to the heavy weight, big rigs need a longer distance to brake, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. When truck drivers exceed the speed limit, they may be unable to stop if a car pulls out in front of them or if they approach heavy traffic conditions. This is especially true in bad weather conditions. Motorists should always drive defensively and be on the lookout for negligent truckers.