While all drivers will be penalized for operating their vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, if you are an operator with a commercial driver’s license, you must adhere to stricter rules than those driving a regular passenger vehicle. The State of California Department of Motor Vehicles details the laws that CDL drivers must follow and the penalties that may be invoked if those rules are broken.
What are the DUI penalties for truck drivers?
What are the death rates in trucking accidents?
It is no secret that the larger size of commercial trucks can make them more deadly than smaller vehicles if they are involved in an accident. If you or a loved one has been in a trucking accident in California, you will have likely realized or even experienced personally the dangers that such a collision entails. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety details the fatality rates for accidents involving large trucks.
Were you in an accident with a disqualified truck driver?
Getting in an accident with any vehicle in California is scary, but a collision with a large truck can be even more intense and result in serious injuries. One thing that can make this situation worse is if you find that the driver of the truck was actually disqualified to drive in the first place. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration details things that can lead to a truck driver’s disqualification.
Federal laws for truck drivers
All motorists are subject to certain laws and penalties designed to protect those who travel the roads. Commercial truck operators in California and other states must adhere to even stricter laws than other drivers due to the increased weight and force that a large truck brings to a crash. The New York Times claims that, while 30,000 people are claimed as road fatalities each year, a surprising one in seven of those deaths are due to collisions with tractor trailers. More of these crashes are caused by fatigue than by drugs or alcohol, making it vital for truck operators to avoid driving drowsy.
Understanding the dangers of truck driver fatigue
From icy roads to driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, there are a plethora of reasons why truck accidents happen. However, some are the result of truck driver fatigue, which occurs when truckers are dangerously tired and put the lives of others at risk by getting behind the wheel. In Van Nuys, California, truck drivers have a responsibility to stay off the road if they are too tired and should understand the risks that driving while fatigued presents.
Federal agencies aim to reduce trucking accidents
While California drivers can make a big difference in the reduction of truck accidents, compliance safety programs are also making efforts to ensure that bigger vehicles are in top condition to avoid crashes resulting from malfunctions and mistakes. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration constantly works to improve motorist safety in situations involving large trucks and has implemented a Compliance, Safety, Accountability program as a result.
How to stop California trucking accidents
While there are many crashes involving large trucks every day in the United States, some areas experience more accidents than others. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that one of the highest states for large truck occupant fatalities in 2015 was California with 31 deaths. Across the state, there were 296 deaths in large truck accidents, meaning less than 10 percent of deaths were drivers and passengers in the trucks and over 90 percent of victims were occupants of the other vehicles involved. There are several things drivers can do to decrease these numbers.
Thousands of trucks placed out-of-service after inspection blitz
Commercial trucks play an important role in our economy. They help transport goods from manufacturer to retailer and help provide everyone with the things they need. From groceries to diapers, the trucking industry plays an important role in our everyday lives.
Beer shipment made by self-driving truck
A great deal of shipping activity here in the U.S. occurs on the nation’s roads. All kinds of goods are transported via semi truck. Currently, these trucks are helmed by human drivers. This could soon be changing, both here in California and throughout the country. Given what’s happening with self-driving technology, it is not unthinkable that we could, in the not-too-distant future, be in a world where a majority of the trucks involved in shipping are controlled by computer drivers.
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