Safety Truck driver

the safety of truck drivers , trucks monitored , statistics compiled fmcsa or federal motor carriers safety administration provides online information on safety violations. if truck stopped law enforcement agent or @ inspection station, information on truck complies , oos violations logged. violation out of service defined federal code imminent hazard under 49 u.s.c. § 521(b)(5)(b), condition result in serious injury or death . national statistics on accidents published in fmcsa analysis , information online website provides key driver oos categories year 2009 nationally: 17.6% log entry violations, 12.6% speeding violations, 12.5% drivers record of duty not current, , 6.5% requiring driver drive more 14 hours on duty. has led insurance companies wanting monitor driver behavior , requiring electronic log , satellite monitoring.

in 2009 there 3380 fatalities involving large trucks, of 2470 attributed combination unit trucks (defined number of trailers behind tractor). in november 2005 fmcsa report congress, data 33 months of large truck crashes analyzed. 87 percent of crashes driver error. in cases 2 vehicles, car , truck, involved, 46 percent of cases involved truck s driver , 56 percent involved car s driver. while truck , car in 2 vehicle accidents share half burden of accidents (not 70 percent stated above), top 6 driver factors same , in approximately equivalent percentages: prescription drug use, on counter drug use, unfamiliarity road, speeding, making illegal maneuvers, inadequate surveillance. suggests truck driver makes same errors car driver , vice versa. not true of vehicle caused crashes (about 30 percent of crashes) top failure trucks caused brakes (29 percent of time compared 2% of time car).

truck drivers spend nights parked @ truck stop, rest area, or on shoulder of freeway ramp. these in secluded areas or dangerous neighborhoods, account number of deaths due drivers being targeted thieves valuable cargo, money, , property, or truck , trailer themselves. drivers of trucks towing flatbed trailers responsible securing , strapping down cargo (which involves climbing onto cargo itself), , if load requires tarping necessitates climbing on load spread out tarps. tarps can weigh 200 lbs each , cargo can require 3 tarps per load account number of deaths , injuries falling. drivers spend long hours behind wheel, can cause strain on muscles. drivers responsible unloading cargo, can lead many strains , sprains due overexertion , improper lifting techniques. if cab of truck not appropriate driver s size, driver can lose visibility , easy access controls , @ higher risk accidents.

sleep disorders , deprivation

truck drivers sensitive sleep disorders because of long hours required @ wheel and, in many cases, lack of adequate rest. driver fatigue contributing factor in 12% of crashes , 10% of near crashes. traffic fatalities high , many of them due driver fatigue. drivers obstructive sleep apnea have sevenfold increased risk of being involved in motor vehicle crash. estimated 2.4-3.9 million licensed commercial drivers in have obstructive sleep apnea out of estimated 18 million total americans. federal motor carrier safety administration says many 28 percent of commercial driver s license holders have sleep apnea.

total costs attributed sleep apnea-related crashes:

2000: $15.9 billion , 1,400 lives


treatment:

cost: $3.18 billion 70% effectiveness of cpap treatment
savings: $11.1 billion in collision costs , 980 lives annually (national safety council)

research sponsored federal motor carrier safety administration , american trucking associations found:

almost one-third (28%) of commercial truck drivers have degree of sleep apnea
17.6% have mild sleep apnea
5.8% have moderate sleep apnea
4.7% have severe sleep apnea

truck drivers on road between 0400 , 0600, 0000 , 0200, , 1400–1600 hours @ highest risk of sleep-related accident.