Most Ohio residents have likely witnessed an accident involving a large commercial vehicle. In many cases, the drivers and passengers of those vehicles involved in an accident with a commercial truck sustain injuries that are extremely serious in nature or even fatal. In the last decades, Federal safety regulatory commissions have taken steps to pass legislation aimed to improve safety measures within the commercial trucking industry.

Many of these laws aimed to crack down on unsafe driving behaviors such as texting or talking on a cellphone while driving. Others sought to vastly reduce the number of truck drivers who use drugs and alcohol while driving. In more recent years, laws have been passed limiting the number of hours truck drivers are allowed to operate a commercial vehicle.

On July 1, even stricter laws for the commercial trucking industry will go into effect. Included in the new provisions are measures that restrict truck drivers from driving more than a total of 70 hours per work week. Previously, truck drivers were allowed to work up to 82 hours per work week. Additionally, as of July 1, truck drivers will be required to take a half hour break for every eight hours spent behind the wheel.

While opponents to the new laws argue such measures will create more congestion and force companies to pass along extra expenses to the public, safety advocates are hopeful they will help save lives.

Ohio residents who have either been involved in or lost a loved one in a trucking accident know the dangers posed by large commercial vehicles. In many cases, such accidents result when truck drivers are overly fatigued or have failed to properly maintain a commercial vehicle.

Source: WGHP-TV, "New truck driving regulations to take effect," Carter Coyle, June 24, 2013