Peachtree City Truck Drivers’ Sleep Deprivation May Contribute to Georgia Truck Accidents
According to Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, based on current driving and rest regulations for Georgia truck drivers, drivers can drive up to 16 hours a week. During a week’s time, that is more than 100 hours on the road. Truckers that drive for excessive periods of time, and there are a lot of them, suffer from fatigue. This fatigue translates into countless Fayette County truck accidents that kill over 5,000 people and hurt 150,000 more innocent victims annually sharing the roads with truckers.
Even more frightening is that nearly all (98%) of the Peachtree City truck accident victims are occupants of passenger vehicles. There are even more frightening facts about Georgia truck accidents:
- Multi-car truck accidents are twice as likely to occur with a large truck compared to passenger vehicles.
- 25 percent of all passenger vehicle deaths are directly attributed to crashes due to the negligence of the large truck driver
If you have suffered injuries or have had a family member die from a Fayette County truck accident, contact a truck accident attorney at Shane Smith Law for a free legal consultation.
There are many reasons why truck driver fatigue is so pervasive and creates Peachtree City truck accidents:
- Nearly one-third of truck drivers (31 percent) admitted that have driven over the maximum number of allowable hours per week.
- Not enough break periods to rest and sleep
- Taking prescription and over-the counter medications to get more sleep
- Irregular sleep schedules
There are even more scary statistics documented about truck drivers who take to the road when they know they are drowsy and not in any shape to drive:
- Nearly 1 in 5 truck drivers knowingly took to the wheel when they were drowsy, eventually falling asleep at the wheel.
- One-third said tight schedules do not permit them to get enough sleep and meal/break periods
- 31 percent of trucks drove while drowsy because of economic reasons
- 12 percent drove while they were sleep because they cited better traffic conditions
Whatever the reason truckers drive while they are sleepy and fatigued, they increase the chances of Peachtree City truck accidents for innocent drivers and passengers that are sharing the roads.
If you have sustained injuries from a Georgia truck accident, then contact a truck accident attorney at Shane Smith Law. After you call you will be scheduled to speak with a Fayette County truck accident attorney during your free legal consultation. Please call (980) 246-2656 to learn more about all of your legal rights.