In recent years, there have been countless studies and news articles discussing the dangers associated with cellphone usage while driving. While there's no doubt that the use of technology and mobile devices by drivers serves as a potentially dangerous distraction, other safety concerns plaguing drivers are often overlooked. Yet these concerns, such as driving while overly fatigued, impact the safety and wellbeing of drivers, passengers and pedestrians across the U.S. every day.
Fatigued driving is a major safety concern for all drivers. This problem, however, especially impacts those individuals who drive for a living. Prior to the passage of federal safety laws, truck drivers would often drive all day and at all times of the day and night to ensure the load they were carrying was delivered on time.
After a rash of serious and fatal commercial truck accidents, federal regulators at the U.S. Transportation Department passed legislation placing driving hour and time restrictions on commercial truck drivers. Since the passage of these laws, the trucking industry has been fighting to have the laws repealed.
A recent decision by an appellate court, however, ended the l14-year egal battle as the court upheld the majority of laws regulating time and hour restrictions for the commercial trucking industry. The case, which was brought by the American Trucking Association, centered on disagreements over mandatory rest periods and an 11-hour work day driving limit. When arguing against such safety measures, American Trucking Association representatives noted such restrictions will cost the industry an estimated $18 billion dollars each year while doing little to improve safety.
Many Ohio residents have likely experienced the ill-effects of driving while overly tired. A driver may experience the first worrisome signs of fatigue as yawning and staring into the distance. In some cases, overly tired drivers fall asleep at the wheel or make driving errors that adversely impact others on the road.
Source: Insurance Journal, "Trucking Industry Loses Challenge to Driver Fatigue Rule," Tome Schoenberg and Jeff Plungis, Aug. 6, 2013