Trucker Fatigue is a Major Factor In Louisiana Accidents

The National Transportation Safety Board notes that driver fatigues is a contributing factor in 30 to 40 percent of all heavy truck accidents. The NTSB's study, that determined this, was originally designed to ferret out drugs and alcohol factors, but it also uncovered the fatigue problem.  

Fatigue and the Ability to Perform

The three biggest performance factors turned out to be fatigue-related.

The reasons why include:

• Changing sleep patterns from seven or eight hours a day to fewer hours
• Sleep deprivation from staying awake longer than 16 to 17 hours, and its cumulative effect
• Too many hours on the job that decreases performance

Federal Truck Hours of Service Regulations

The government thus regulates hours on the road for truckers.

These regulations include:

• A maximum of 11 hours driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• No driving beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.
• No driving after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.
• Sleeping berth drivers must take at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, plus a separate 2 consecutive hours either in the sleeper berth, off duty, or any combination of the two.  

Trucks and Highway Deaths

There is no doubt that trucks account for a high number of overall traffic deaths.

Call a Louisiana truck accident attorney today at (866) 660-7220 for a free and confidential consultation if you have been involved in a car accident or an accident with a truck.