Truck Accidents: How to Prevent Drowsy-Driving Crashes

Commercial truck drivers are prone to fatigue because of the long hours on the road, which can delay the driver’s reaction time and affect decision-making. Unfortunately, because of a big rig’s sheer size and weight, a crash with a semi-truck is likely to end with serious injuries, usually to the other drivers involved.

For truck drivers, it’s often a lose-lose situation. They are faced with long hours on monotonous roads, like the long highways that run through Florida. They are forced to meet tight deadlines, and the requirements of their work sometimes make it difficult to stay awake and attentive. Some turn to drugs to help deal with the fatigue or use legal alternatives such as coffee or energy drinks.

Laws have been passed in the last few years to prevent truck drivers from being overworked, yet it is still a frequent occurrence. If you have been involved in a truck accident, a Florida truck accident lawyer at Searcy Denney can help.

How Can Truck Drivers Avoid Drowsy Driving?

The primary responsibility for drowsy driving truck accidents falls onto the truck drivers themselves. Some tips to avoid drowsy driving include:

• Get plenty of sleep. There simply is no substitute for getting enough sleep.
• Manage your time. Don’t put yourself behind such that you need to drive for extra hours to get back on schedule.
• Visit a doctor if you are having trouble sleeping.
• Eat before and during your trip.
• Schedule regular stops. Take frequent breaks at truck stops along the way.
• Avoid any medication that causes drowsiness.
• Avoid alcohol. Drinking will make you tired as well as impaired.

How Can Drivers Avoid Collisions With Drowsy Truck Drivers?

Other drivers on the road should learn how to avoid a drowsy truck driver out of sheer self-preservation. Some tips include:

• Avoid blind spots. Typically, these include one in the front, one in the back, and two on the sides.
• If a trucker is driving too closely behind you, then change lanes to let him or her pass.
• Truckers need to take wide turns. Expect truck drivers to cross into your lane if they are turning.
• Do not change lanes in front of a truck and then brake abruptly.
• Keep plenty of distance between you and any big-rig.

Remember the Three Factors Most Commonly Associated With Drowsy-Driving Accidents

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), these factors are:

1. Drowsy-driving crashes occur most frequently between midnight and 6 a.m. or in the late afternoon. At both times of the day, people experience dips in their circadian rhythm, which is the human body’s internal clock regulating sleep.
2. Drowsy-driving crashes often involve only a single driver with no passengers running off the road at high speed with no evidence of braking.
3. Drowsy-driving crashes most frequently occur on rural roads and highways.

Let a Florida Truck Accident Lawyer Help You if You’ve Been Injured in a Truck Accident

Drowsy-driver truck accidents can cause abnormally serious consequences because of a commercial truck’s sheer size and weight. If you have suffered injuries resulting from a truck accident, contact a Florida truck accident lawyer at Searcy Denney for help. We offer a free consultation and work on a contingency fee basis.