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What is truck driver fatigue?

On Behalf of | Mar 17, 2017 | Truck Accidents

Accidents involving a semi or another type of large truck happen for a multitude of reasons. Sometimes, a collision occurs because a truck driver was driving too fast, while others are caused by alcohol or drug use. Having said that, truck driver fatigue is a major problem in the trucking industry and it is important for everyone on the road to understand the risks that come with driving while dangerously tired in Richmond, and cities across the entire state of Kentucky.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration states that truck driver fatigue has various causes, such as working excessive hours and failing to get a sufficient amount of sleep before taking to the road. Large truck drivers may face certain job-related pressures that push them to drive while fatigued, but they should never get behind the wheel under these circumstances. Worse yet, it can be difficult to prove that a truck driver was fatigued at the time of the crash, since fatigue cannot be measured in the same way as alcohol consumption, drug use, speeding and other behaviors.

Truck drivers should inform themselves of different strategies to prevent fatigue, such as eating healthy, identifying the warning signs of fatigue and only driving after they have gotten the necessary amount of sleep. Sadly, some ignore the risks and continue to put other peoples’ lives at risk by taking to the highway when they are too tired to drive properly. As a result, victims of these crashes should explore all avenues as they try to recover from a wreck.