When a person is too tired to drive safely, he or she may display behaviors often seen in drunk drivers. This includes swerving, driving at erratic speeds, driving on the wrong side of the road and much more. When the fatigued individual is behind the wheel of a large semi-trailer or commercial vehicle, fatal motor vehicle accidents are more likely to occur.
Because of the hours that truckers work and the pressure they may feel to deliver a load faster, they may drive too many consecutive hours without the mandated break time. Truck driver fatigue plays a role in a significant number of truck accidents. This may leave many Texas readers wondering if there is anything that can be done to curtail this dangerous problem.
A startling number of adults admit to falling asleep behind the wheel. Many drivers are fatigued to the point of being dangerous, but this is a particularly serious issue for truckers. Due to the heavy weight and large size of these types of vehicles, they can cause catastrophic damage in a collision. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Administration, truckers can combat fatigue by staying off the road during hours when they would normally be asleep.
Truckers have the responsibility of knowing when they are too tired to get behind the wheel without endangering others. Trucking companies have the responsibility of having reasonable schedules for their drivers, including mandating rest time. Motor vehicle accidents caused by fatigue can have tragic consequences, and Texas victims or their loved ones may have grounds to pursue legal recourse through a civil claim.