It takes one split second for a motor vehicle accident to happen. When a collision involves a large commercial truck, injuries to occupants in the smaller vehicle can be severe and potentially fatal.
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) delved into the growing problem and recently released a significant update to their own Predicting Truck Crash Involvement research.
A look towards the future
The prominent group found that certain factors significantly increase the chance of collisions. Researchers found that truck drivers committing specific violations or behaviors increase their future crash likelihood by more than 100 percent. Those include:
- 141 percent for failing to yield the right-of-way
- 116 percent for failing to use or improper signal conviction
- 104 percent for reckless driving violations
- 113 percent following a prior crash
The implementation of the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate in 2018 continues to help paint a more complete picture. In the last year, collisions dropped seven percent, with the number of Hour of Service-related violations dropping by 16.8 percent.
When considering genders from the same period, men are likelier to commit 11 behaviors predictive of future crash involvement. When it comes to female drivers – accounting for nearly seven percent of the workforce – have a reduced likelihood (2.7 percent) of being inspected.
Over-the-road truck drivers play an essential role, particularly when supply chain problems occur. Yet, to get from place to place, those operators must adhere to the highest standards of safety on the road. Falling short can lead to catastrophic consequences that may require the help of an experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorney.