Commercial trucks pose a danger on the roadways when safety is held as a priority. When it comes to truck safety, there are some myths that people have. Here are some of those truck safety myths debunked.
Truckers Need Less Sleep
It might seem outlandish to suggest that truckers need less sleep than others, but this is a common defense. Some claim that truckers need less sleep because they are used to working on little sleep. The truth is that anyone who drives drowsy could end up in an accident. You cannot control how your body behaves when drowsy. Your focus and concentration are at risk, not to mention you have worse reaction time. In fact, drowsy drivers, even truckers have the equivalent of a blood alcohol of .18 percent after being awake for 18 hours or more.
Truckers Can Handle Bad Weather
It is true that skill does come into play when it comes to safe driving in dangerous weather. The myth, however, states that truckers can drive as quickly as they need to in bad weather because they are more experienced behind the wheel. This is not the case. Wet or snowy conditions are still dangerous for truckers. A trucker has to slow down his or her vehicle the same way that any passenger vehicle does in poor weather.
Truckers Don’t Have to Check Blind Spots
Many people believe that it is on the other driver to ensure that he or she is not in a trucker’s blind spot. While it is beneficial to know a truck’s blind spots, most drivers are not aware of how much visibility a trucker has. The trucker has to check blind spots regularly, particularly before making any lane changes. It is up to the trucker to ensure that he or she does not cause any catastrophes on the road.
Truckers Are Not Regulated
If you aren’t a commercial driver, then you may not know how many federal regulations there are regarding truckers. They have to abide by a strict code of conduct. They must abide by regulations on how long they can drive and how many breaks that they have to take. Now, it is true that some truckers ignore the rules, but if found out, they would be held accountable for it.
When it comes to trucking accidents, they can be more devastating than other passenger accidents. If you were recently in an accident, consult with a truck accident lawyer in Roanoke, VA as soon as possible.
Thanks to MartinWren, P.C. for their insight into personal injury claims and truck safety myths.